Dr. Johnna Nynas, an OB/GYN at Sanford Bemidji in Minnesota, has been selected by CNN as one of this year’s Champions for Change honorees. The recognition highlights individuals who are making a difference in their communities and around the world.
As one of 14 people chosen, representing various industries including health care, education, fashion, and art, Dr. Nynas is being recognized for her exceptional work in improving access to healthcare for pregnant women in rural towns in northern Minnesota through Sanford Health’s telehealth program.
Through Sanford Health’s low-tech toolkit, patients receive necessary tools for virtual prenatal appointments, such as a doppler to measure fetal heart rate and a blood pressure cuff. Dr. Nynas played a crucial role in securing a $3.67 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Maternity and Obstetric Management Strategies (RMOMS) program to establish the Families First: Rural Maternity Health Collaborative aimed at enhancing access to prenatal, obstetric, and postpartum care for women in rural, underserved, and tribal communities.
As part of the RMOMS program, Sanford Health set up a team to assist with scheduling doctor appointments, providing patient transportation
