Celebrating 75 years of patient-centered care

Stellis Health is marking a significant milestone this April as the organization celebrates its 75th anniversary of serving the healthcare needs of Buffalo, Monticello, and the surrounding communities.   

Founded in 1951, Stellis Health began as a small, community-focused clinic with a mission to provide accessible, high-quality healthcare close to home, with a focus on building patient-centered relationships.  

Stellis Health has maintained that core focus over the decades. Currently providing a comprehensive list of services, which include primary care, women’s health, behavioral health, urgent care, preventive screenings, chronic disease management, and dermatology.

While the field of medicine is ever-changing and evolving, the same patient-centered philosophy that guided Stellis Health in its earliest days remains strong today.

“It’s all those people who’ve come before,” stated Buffalo native and BHS alumni Dr. Jason Halvorson, who’s been with Stellis Health for 29 years. “This is the clinic I went to as a kid. I remember the offices in downtown Buffalo. I remember the clinic being built and the new hospital in Monticello, and all the different things doctors have done over the years to improve access to medical care in the community. I don’t think people envisioned 75 years ago what it would be today.”

Stellis Health President Dr. Frank Anderson, who’s been with Stellis Health for 15 years, added, “To me, it’s the spirit and the vision that the founders, the doctors, and staff had about what kind of place this was going to be. We’re very people-centric here. Our tagline is neighbors caring for neighbors. That’s what Stellis was built on and continues to be going forward.”

Independent Healthcare Model

Stellis Health remains committed to its ideals of caring for the people of Wright County. In a modern world of large healthcare systems, Stellis Health has maintained an independent business model since its inception. 

“We have owners who live in town. That’s who’s running the business and making the decisions.” stated CEO Brent Wilde, who joined Stellis Health in 2021. “It’s a cool model to have for the people who live here.” 

Maintaining an independent business model brings a host of advantages, including affordability. 

“It’s a wonderful service to have, not only for the providers in town, but it’s more affordable to have an independent practice than a systemic practice, “stated Wilde. “If people come to Stellis, they’re going to pay less for the exact same services. People don’t always realize that. In a time where everyone is pinching their dollars, it’s important to know. That’s a huge benefit.”

Decisions can be discussed and implemented quickly within an independent healthcare model. 

“We had a need for all new imagining equipment. The money that’s needed comes from the business and the owners. The business was able to make a decision in a matter of weeks after doing the analysis. Both Buffalo and Monticello have two brand-new sets of imaging equipment. It’s a testament to the company and the owners who continue to re-invest in the business. The money is not going somewhere else, it’s staying in town,” shared Wilde. 

Collaboration is also key within an independent model, allowing for professional relationships to develop within a tight-knit community of providers. Stellis Health has approximately 60 total providers, including physician’s assistants, along with a dedicated staff between the Buffalo and Monticello facilities.  

Growing Towards the Future

As Stellis Health celebrates its 75-year existence, leadership looks towards the future, embracing new technologies while maintaining a focus on patient-centered care.

“Healthcare is a very human industry,” highlighted Dr. Anderson. “We want to embrace the benefits of technology as they come, but at the end of the day, it’s a human experience that is best shepherded by human experts. To have a business that’s been here 75 years who remains committed to that human-to-human connection, hopefully it’s something that citizens can celebrate. The favorite part of my job is connecting with people. It’s something we hold central here at Stellis and always will. I think that is a big part of why we’ve survived for 75 years.”

Impact of Technology and Automation

Doctors and staff at Stellis Health strive to achieve a balance between automation and patient-central care. Leadership highlighted the benefits of technology and its ability to help patients understand their personal healthcare journey.  

“Patients who come in with some knowledge and thought of what they have going on, in part, helps them to tell their story,” stated Dr. Halvorson. “They can tell their story with greater detail, which helps you formulate an assessment. It’s one of the benefits of people researching and gathering information.”

While technology can provide an understanding of symptoms and diagnosis, challenges remain in navigating an ever-changing sea of information, which can potentially create confusion over accuracy. 

“An impact to healthcare going forward may be the over reliance on automation and technology,” stated Dr. Anderson. “There can be a temptation to just pop something into Google or ChatGPT to get answers and move on. Stellis is a leader in utilizing available technology, which is a must, and yet also advocating for that on-going personal connection. Having that person, not just a website or data bank, who knows your healthcare story, and your desires going forward, who works as a team to help patients make hard decisions at difficult moments is something I hope this next generation doesn’t lose.”

Beyond 75 Years

Celebrating the 75-year anniversary of Stellis Health marks a significant milestone in the healthcare journey of the people of Wright County, but it’s not the end of the story. 

“Our focus going forward at Stellis is to continue to take care of the residents of Wright County, and beyond,” stated Wilde. “We’ll be here for Buffalo. We’ll be here for Monticello. We have every intention to continue providing care for patients and the community.”

“We have enthusiastic physicians and PA’s who want to continue the tradition and be involved in a community like ours,” added Dr. Halvorson.

“We’re grateful to all the patients and the community for their support for 75 years,” shared Wilde. “We’re going to be here. As things change and evolve, we’ll remain committed to the community who has been committed to Stellis.”