On April 23, 2025, the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) facilitated a statewide Palliative Care and Hospice Planning Meeting at the Arrowwood Resort at Cedar Shore in Chamberlain, South Dakota.
The gathering brought together members of the South Dakota Coalition for the Advancement of Serious Illness Care (SD CASIC) network partners and a variety of palliative care and hospice care stakeholders from across the state.
In 2023, SDAHO received a planning grant from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The goal of the grant is to explore the feasibility of establishing a formal statewide hospice and palliative care network.
This April meeting marked the second statewide session focused on:
- Defining a potential structure for the network,
- Identifying high-impact priorities,
- Outlining actionable steps to support healthcare professionals, individuals living with serious illness, and their support systems.
The meeting was moderated by Mary Sand of Sand Consulting, who helped guide discussions and clarify key priorities. These include:
- Promoting consistent messaging around palliative care,
- Educating health professionals in primary palliative care delivery,
- Raising awareness among patients about the benefits of palliative care,
- Addressing hospice and palliative care policy issues,
- Supporting peer-to-peer collaboration across the state.
Participants represented a diverse group of stakeholders, including large healthcare systems, independent providers, state agencies, and the South Dakota Regental system.
Michele Snyders, CSW-PIP, APHSW-C, SDAHO’s Hospice and Palliative Care Program Manager, shared her appreciation for the event:
“We at SDAHO are very thankful for those who participated in this statewide meeting. Everyone involved is passionate about patient care and committed to improving access to services for those living with a serious illness. Together, we made important decisions that will help shape the future of hospice and palliative care in South Dakota.”
South Dakota Coalition for the Advancement of Serious Illness Care (SD CASIC) Network Statement
Serious illness is a thread that is woven throughout South Dakota. It touches nearly everyone in the state. If you aren’t directly impacted by a serious illness, chances are you know someone who is. Access to palliative care in South Dakota is limited with only 12 board certified hospice and palliative care physicians in the state to care for over 909,000 residents. Nine of these physicians are in one urban area, leaving most of the state without access. Those living with serious illness are at risk of missing out on care that could significantly improve their quality of life and address the issues that matter most to them. Acknowledging the challenges posed by the state’s rural nature and limited access to palliative care is only the beginning. A strong palliative care network is needed to pool resources, expertise, and experiences to meet the palliative care needs of our residents.
There is an urgency across the state to equip healthcare professionals in every hospital or clinic with at least basic palliative care knowledge, skills, and resources to care for patients. With a proven track record of collaboration, South Dakota is poised to bring together dedicated healthcare professionals and organizations to create a network of support for rural professionals throughout the state. LifeCircle SD can be the network to satisfy that urgency. Through our combined efforts we are determined to improve health care resources for the seriously ill in our state.
To learn more contact Michele.Snyders@sdaho.org
