YANKTON, S.D. (WNAX) – Keeping health care services and providers in rural areas is becoming a major challenge.

Doug Ekeren, President of Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, says the area has strong medical community now.

Ekeren says it will be more difficult to find and recruit doctors in the future.

Ekeren says they need to find health care alternatives.

Ekeren says that is why they continue to develop services like telehealth and depend more on physician assistants and nurse practitioners.