SOUTH DAKOTA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION

THE SOUTH DAKOTA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION (SDHCA) IS THE LEADING TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING LONG TERM CARE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SKILLED NURSING CARE, ASSISTED LIVING, AND CONGREGATE LIVING THROUGHOUT SOUTH DAKOTA. MEMBERS INCLUDE BOTH NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND PROPRIETARY PROVIDERS. OUR MEMBERSHIP ALSO ENCOMPASSES MULTI-FACILITY CHAINS AND INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FACILITIES. THE SOUTH DAKOTA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1951 AS A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION BRINGING TOGETHER CONCERNED PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LONG TERM CARE. THE SDHCA IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR ASSISTED LIVING (NCAL) AND THE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION (AHCA), WHICH IS THE LARGEST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING LONG TERM CARE PROVIDERS. ADVOCACY - SDHCA SERVES AS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR LONG TERM CARE PROVIDERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA. THIS ADVOCACY INCLUDES EFFECTIVE LOBBYING AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATION OF OUR MEMBERS BEFORE REGULATORS, AND MAINTAINING A STRONG PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON THROUGH AHCA. BECAUSE WE ONLY REPRESENT LONG TERM CARE ORGANIZATIONS, OUR ADVOCACY IS CREDIBLE AND EFFECTIVE. COMMUNICATION - LONG TERM CARE IS AN INCREASINGLY REGULATED AND FAST CHANGING INDUSTRY. FEW PROVIDERS HAVE THE TIME TO KEEP UP WITH THESE CHANGES. SDHCA MEMBERS RECEIVE CONCISE AND TIMELY REPORTS OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFFECTING THEIR INDUSTRY. MEMBERS RECEIVE WEEKLY SUMMARIES OF EVENTS DURING THE SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION. IN ADDITION, THEY RECEIVE MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS AND UPDATES ON FAST BREAKING CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION - SDHCA SPONSORS THREE MAJOR EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS ANNUALLY ALONG WITH OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE SDHCA ARE TARGETED SPECIFICALLY FOR LONG TERM CARE PROVIDERS AND FEATURE NATIONALLY KNOWN SPEAKERS AND UP TO THE MINUTE TOPICS. SPECIAL PROGRAMS ARE ALSO OFFERED FOR THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL CARE PROVIDERS AND ARE DESIGNED WITH THEIR INPUT. AS AN SDHCA MEMBER, YOUR FACILITY STAFF RECEIVES DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION AND PRIORITY ADMISSION. INNOVATION - SDHCA IS PROUD OF ITS SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC RELATION CAMPAIGN THAT HAS IMPROVED BOTH THE IMAGE OF AGING AND PARTICULARLY LONG TERM CARE PROVIDERS. AS PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN, A CLUB WAS DEVELOPED TO HONOR THE STATE'S CENTENARIANS THROUGH A PROGRAM CALLED THE CENTURY CLUB. IN ADDITION, A DAKOTA MASTERWORKS ART SHOW IS AVAILABLE TO ALL SOUTH DAKOTA SENIORS. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE GENERATED VERY POSITIVE RESULTS IN COMMUNITIES STATEWIDE.