South Dakota recently revived its State Health Improvement Plan after it was paused during the pandemic. The newly published comprehensive State Health Assessment, which covers various health fields and includes data and insights from priority health indicator assessments, community conversations, and key informant interviews, has been shared with the Department of Health by health organizations and communities.
According to Mariah Pokorny, the deputy division director at the Department of Health, this effort aims to better inform the state’s health system. Pokorny emphasized the importance of collaboration and working together to address health issues by implementing strategies based on priorities identified in the assessment.
The assessment serves as a backbone to identify areas such as capacity and training needs, as well as gather input from healthcare providers on the ground to identify successful approaches that could be implemented in other communities. Individuals interested in accessing the assessment documents can find a link on the Department of Health’s website.
By working together and leveraging insights from healthcare providers, South Dakota hopes to make strides in improving public health outcomes across the state through data-driven strategies outlined in the State Health Improvement Plan.