South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard’s 2014 State of the State Address focused on workforce issues in the state especially relevant to providing healthcare in rural areas. He stated “The state’s elderly population is expected to double by 2015 as many veterans and the elderly need to use rural healthcare facilities.”
“However, most of the state’s health professionals are concentrated in the more populated areas and as a result, rural areas have been struggling to recruit and retain providers. Fifty three of the state’s 62 counties are federally designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) either partially or completely.”
The Governor reports that for the past two years, the state has expanded the rural healthcare facilities recruitment program for registered nurses and physical therapists. As a result, there are 120 new healthcare professionals that have been recruited and will go to 49 rural communities.
The Governor has proposed in his budget that the number of students enrolled in medical schools be increased and that the state work to add residencies to keep these additional medical school graduates in South Dakota during their residency training. The goal is also to increase the capacity of the physician assistant program at the University of South Dakota from 20 to 25 students and reserve 20 of those spots for South Dakotans.
In an effort to help Critical Access Hospitals (CAI), the South Dakota Broadband Initiative (SDBI) awarded 29 CAIs technology grants for over $285,000 to purchase devices and equipment. The State’s participation in the state Broadband Initiative is funded by Commerce’s National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA).
The funding is going to fund firewalls to protect computers against malware, spyware, viruses, and other threatening content, network switches to ensure uptime and stability as well as increase network speeds and performance, wireless equipment for mobile connectivity, and new or additional laptops and desktops.
SDBI vendors on state contracts can offer discounts on a wide range of network hardware, servers, desktops, laptops, wireless hardware and more. CAIs can purchase equipment at discount prices for hardware refreshes, upgrades, or for new equipment.
To help CAIs increase their workforce, the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT) at http://bit.sd.gov offers services that uses advanced technology solutions to retain highly skilled workforce and directly support clients. Services include project management, technology integration, software and hardware, hosting, email capabilities, voicemail and phone services, document imaging, network storage, and help with desk support services
In addition, the South Dakota Technology Planning and Computer Ownership (TCPO) Program as part of the SDBI at http://broadband.sd.gov/TPCO-TAR.aspx assists CAIs with technical services. These service include providing in-depth technology assessments to determine the CAIs technical challenges and obstacles. With the information, the TPCO program is able to determine current capabilities, potential shortcomings, and ways to improve.
For more information, go to http://broadband.sd.gov