PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota is launching a new statewide effort to improve emergency medical services in rural communities where long travel distances and limited resources can make emergency care more challenging.
The South Dakota Department of Health has selected the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care to help develop regional EMS hubs across the state.
The initiative is designed to bring together EMS agencies, health care providers, tribal partners and community organizations to better coordinate services, share resources and strengthen the emergency response system.
Officials say the effort will also focus on supporting and growing the EMS workforce, a key concern for many rural communities.
The Foundation for Medical Care has already led similar planning efforts in north-central South Dakota, where hundreds of stakeholders participated in discussions aimed at improving emergency medical services. The statewide expansion is intended to build on those successes and improve access to emergency care for communities across South Dakota.
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