The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) has been hearing from members about the challenges they are facing placing patients in post-acute care beds across the state. SDAHO began the SD Transitions of Care Survey in May of 2023, and have implemented it as a quarterly survey to all member hospitals across the state.
The quarterly reports show characteristics about those patients who have been awaiting discharge for one week or longer, such as geographic location, payer, facility type awaiting discharge, and more. Additionally, comments from the facilities help to show the underlying issues and growing pressure this is putting on the overall healthcare system in South Dakota.
Since implementing the survey, the total number of patients awaiting discharge seven days or longer has ranged from a high of 128 in August 2023 to a low of 64 in July 2024, with a total of 436 through five surveys (some individuals may be counted more than once). The longest reported stay since implementing the survey for an individual patient is 310 days, reported in July 2024. If you have any questions regarding the SD Transitions of Care Survey, please reach out to Jacob Parsons, Director of Advocacy and Reimbursement.
