South Dakota Revitalizes State Health Improvement Plan with Comprehensive Assessment and Collaborative Approach

The State of South Dakota has recently revitalized its State Health Improvement Plan after it was put on hold during the pandemic. This comprehensive State Health Assessment, published by the Department of Health, is a result of collaboration between health organizations and communities. The assessment covers various health fields and includes data and insights from priority health indicator assessments, community conversations, and key informant interviews.

Mariah Pokorny, the deputy division director at the Department of Health, emphasized the importance of collaborating and working together to address health issues. She highlighted that this effort is aimed at better informing the state health system by implementing strategies based on priorities identified in the assessment. The assessment serves as a backbone to inform and identify areas such as capacity and training needs.

Individuals interested in accessing the assessment documents can find a link on the Department of Health’s website. The collaboration and data-driven strategies outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan aim to strengthen the state’s health system and address health issues more effectively. By working together and leveraging insights from healthcare providers, South Dakota hopes to make strides in improving public health outcomes across the state.