South Dakota’s first hospital is established in Lead, SD (Western SD).

The first faith-based hospital, Sisters of the Holy Cross, opens in Deadwood, SD.

Sioux Falls opens its first hospital at the Seney House.

The South Dakota State Hospital Association (SDHA) is established through the efforts of Dick Braskamp, who became the association’s first leader.

The first Annual Convention is held at Marvin Hughitt Hotel in Huron.

Development of several community hospitals.

The first legislative committee is appointed at the SDHA annual conference. One year later, it convinced a special session of the state legislature to allocate to counties roughly 50 percent of a new tax on beer for the “hospitalization of the indigent.”

15^th Annual Convention is held at Alonzo Ward Hotel in Aberdeen.

Total funds reverted to counties for “hospitalization of the indigent” reached $3,008,727.97.

The 25^th Silver Jubilee Annual Convention is held at Alonzo Ward Hotel in Aberdeen.

SDHA begins hosting mid-year member conferences.

SDHA affiliates with the American Hospital Association.

The Annual Conference is held in conjunction with the SD Women’s Auxiliary meeting. These groups meet together annually for years.

SDHA is incorporated in SD, offering various types of memberships that parallel those of the American Hospital Association.

Jack Rogers becomes SDHA’s first Executive Director.

SDHA joins with Colorado and Nebraska hospital associations to develop central accounting for small hospitals.

SDHA holds its first presentation of awards to hospitals and individuals who contributed outstanding service.

The first central office of SDHA is leased in the St. Charles Hotel, Pierre.

SDAHO establishes member districts.

The 35th Annual Convention, “Your Hospital A Community Partnership”, is held at Sheraton Cataract Hotel in Sioux Falls.

William Murphy becomes SDHA’s second executive director.

Medicaid and Medicare are implemented.

SDHA develops a Nurse Aide Training Program.

Rural Health Initiatives establishes the Office of Rural Health.

SDHA provides crucial support for the Certificate of Need program – state regulatory mechanisms for approving major capital expenditures and projects for certain health care facilities.

Moved central office to Sioux Falls.

SDHA enters a contractual agreement with Iowa Health Services Data System to facilitate statewide data collection for member hospitals.

Frank Drew becomes the third executive director.

The 50th Annual Convention is held at Holiday Inn, Sioux Falls.

A rural hospital committee is formed to ensure sustainability and growth of rural-area hospitals.

The first Membership Survey is sent to member facilities.

A moratorium is established for the construction of Nursing Home and Supervised Assisted Living facilities.

The SDAHO PAC (Political Action Committee) is established to serve as the political voice for South Dakota’s hospitals, health systems and long-term care providers.

The 55th Annual Convention, “Managing Change in an Era of Limitations: A Delicate Balance” is held, increasing partnerships with affiliate societies.

SDHA begins reporting utilization and financial indicators to individual members.

SDHA begins to serve as the leading health care advocacy voice in the state.

SDHA and SD State Medical Association pass significant and controversial malpractice tort reform legislation.

SDAHO builds a new office in Southwest Sioux Falls.

Personal membership societies at SDHA grow. The affiliated societies participate in the SDAHO Annual Convention and have the opportunity to offer their own educational tracks during the September event.

The Federal Government lifts the national Certificate of Need mandate.

The Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center is established, beginning the growth of telehealth in South Dakota, supported by SDAHO.

The 65th Annual Convention is held at Ramkota in Sioux Falls.

The South Dakota Legislature passes a bill requiring health care providers and facilities to disclose health care charges to customers upon request.

The South Dakota Hospital Association unites both acute and post-acute care providers under one unified vision, and changes its name to the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO).

SDAHO’s 70th Annual Convention is held at the Rapid City Civic Center.

The first Long-Term Care event is held at Cedar Shore in Chamberlain.

David Hewett becomes the fourth president/CEO.

SDAHO establishes a rule that health care systems must provide data publicly in order to be a member.

The first Continuing Care Conference (today known as Post-Acute Partners in Care Conference) is held at the Ramkota Inn in Pierre.

The 75th Annual Convention, “Celebrating 75 Years of Service” is held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

The 80th Annual Convention is held at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides pandemic influenza preparedness funding through the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). SDAHO helps members secure these funds to strengthen health care systems.

SDAHO assists with advocacy efforts when South Dakota’s health care community works toward a statewide health improvement plan that includes chronic disease, mental health and opioids.

SDAHO provides educational opportunities for members as a high rate of South Dakota hospitals transition to electronic health record (EHR) systems.

Gretchen Dahlen becomes the interim president/CEO.

Scott Duke becomes the fifth president/CEO.

SDAHO becomes a member of LeadingAge. This partnership aims to enhance advocacy and support for aging services in the state.

SDAHO’s Health Research and Education Trust (HRET) is founded with a focus on improving health care quality and access through research, education, and collaboration among providers.

SDAHO Enterprises was founded as the wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary of SDAHO, designed to help support over 160 hospitals and post-acute care providers across South Dakota.

The 90th Annual Convention is held in Sioux Falls at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

SDAHO hosts the first Rural Health Leaders Conference in partnership with the South Dakota Healthcare Financial Management Association, the South Dakota Department of Rural Health, and the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas.

Larry Veitz, a board member and an outstanding leader in the communities he served, passes away on November 4, 2017. SDAHO later establishes the Larry Veitz Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes leaders in health care. His wife Rhonda accepted the first award on his behalf.

Tim Rave becomes the sixth president/CEO.

The Nurse Leadership Program is established, equipping hospital and post-acute care nurses with skills to be successful and supportive leaders in their organizations. The program has grown by participation every year since its creation.

SDAHO is instrumental in supporting hospitals by passing through millions of dollars in COVID-19 funding from the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program.

The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response awards South Dakota $560,338 followed by a second award of $1.9 million to be used for personal protective equipment at each hospital.

The board of directors and leadership canceled SDAHO’s Annual Convention due to COVID-19.

SDAHO acquires the Assisted Living Association of South Dakota (ALASD).

The 95th Annual Convention in Sioux Falls is hosted virtually, offering educational sessions via Zoom, due to a surge in COVID-19 illnesses and hospitalizations.

SDAHO expands online educational opportunities through on-demand and live webinars.

Due to pandemic-related strains on members, the board and leadership lower registration fees to attend SDAHO’s 96th Annual Convention.

Medicaid expansion is enacted, with SDAHO playing a crucial role in raising awareness of its benefits and collaborating with other organizations to support the ballot measure.

SDAHO’s Post-Acute Partners in Care implements a Facility Art Contest for nursing home activity directors and residents to create art projects matching a theme. Conference attendees vote on their favorite art pieces, with three winners receiving monetary prizes.

SDAHO’s 100th Anniversary.

In observance of the 100th anniversary, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden officially proclaimed February 3, 2026, as “SDAHO Day” at SDAHO’s All District meeting in Pierre.