South Dakota Reservation Health Care Still Strives to Be Adequate
Sioux Falls is blessed to have two well-funded and fully accredited healthcare systems to utilize. To the west the struggle to have even one is evident.
Recent inspections have turned up violations that forced the closure of the emergency department of the Indian Health Service hospital in Rosebud. Additionally there is lack of staff in the OB-GYN unit which forces patients to use services one to two hours away.
Dr. Dan Heinemann Chief Medical Officer of Sanford Health knows it takes sustained effort by providers to give patients proper care which Rosebud area lacks.
“It’s a constant challenge for us (at Sanford) with all the resources we have and the same goes for Avera to maintain that accreditation and quality. If you don’t have the resources or the people it’s almost impossible. I think that’s what is going on there right now.”
The pressure is then transferred to other health care systems both close and far according to Heinemann.
“The community of Winner is being asked to step up and provide a lot of service. As are all the other communities that are within driving distance of that area. Delayed care generally tends to be expensive care. That’s what’s happening to Rapid City Regional and those patients are coming here to Sioux Falls too.”
Heinemann hopes that a South Dakota solution can come to the forefront to advance the health in every corner of the state.
Additionally Heinemann says if Governor Daugaard’s proposal to expand Medicaid were to be enacted, the normal South Dakotan would see little change. The bigger impacts would be felt in Rosebud.
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