The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is actively working to rebuild and maintain public trust in the health care industry, a necessity given a recent decline in public confidence. Their approach is built on three pillars: Education, Advocacy, and Networking.
SDAHO’s Core Pillars
- Education: SDAHO provides continuous learning opportunities through accredited conferences and webinars. These programs are designed to enhance leadership skills, improve patient care, and foster professional growth among health care staff.
- Advocacy: The organization maintains a constant presence at both the state and federal levels to ensure the health care community’s voice is heard. They work directly with policymakers to highlight the real-world challenges and successes of their members, influencing policy and shaping the health care landscape.
- Networking: SDAHO creates both in-person and virtual platforms for health care executives, clinicians, and board members to connect. These spaces are crucial for sharing effective strategies, addressing workforce shortages, and collaborating on solutions to common issues.
Showcasing the Human Side of Healthcare
SDAHO also runs initiatives to make health care professionals more relatable to the public, which shows helps build trust. The Hometown Healthcare Heroes series, launched in 2022, has celebrated nearly 50 professionals across 16 communities by sharing their personal stories. Similarly, the Expanding the Workforce Pipeline series, which debuted in 2025, aims to boost rural recruitment by showcasing various health care roles and the vital impact these professionals have on their communities.
Focus on Workplace Safety
Recognizing the importance of a safe environment, SDAHO makes workplace safety a key priority. They offer specialized workshops for staff at critical access hospitals and provide members with access to a variety of resources, including training videos and materials, through their dedicated webpage. This commitment protects health care professionals, patients, and the wider community they serve.
To access the Summer 2025 Trustee Newsletter and previous issues, please visit the SDAHO Trustee Resource Center at trustees.sdaho.org.
