The South Dakota Department of Health recently published a comprehensive State Health Assessment, which was put on hold during the pandemic. This revitalization effort aims to better inform the state health system by collaborating and working together to address health issues based on priorities identified in the assessment.
Mariah Pokorny, the deputy division director at the Department of Health, emphasized the importance of gathering input from healthcare providers on the ground to identify successful approaches that could be implemented in other communities. She stated that this information serves as a backbone to inform and identify areas such as capacity and training needs.
The assessment covers various health fields and includes data and insights from priority health indicator assessments, community conversations, and key informant interviews. This information is made available to partners and programs to support data-driven efforts in South Dakota. By implementing strategies based on these findings, the state hopes to improve public health outcomes across the state.
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 South Dakota’s health system and address health issues more effectively.
