South Dakota Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program

Faculty from the Community Practice Innovation Center (CPIC) in the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions are leading SDSU’s work as part of the South Dakota Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program. Our work will build upon the work completed through The 1815 Project, the previous 5-year project to improve cardiovascular health in South Dakota, through a partnership with the South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH). The primary goal of SDSU’s role in the South Dakota Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program is to build upon our 1815 Project work to offer accessible preventative care and chronic care management in the areas of cardiovascular disease and diabetes across South Dakota communities.

The new 5-year work will see the development and implementation of a mobile clinic whose primary purpose is to provide accessible diabetes and cardiovascular care in South Dakota’s rural communities. While pharmacists can often be the most accessible member of a healthcare team, especially in rural areas, access to care remains a major barrier for patients. By establishing a mobile clinic, the project team will be able to bring key care services to patient’s communities, with the goal of connecting them with and supporting providers and practitioners already serving those areas.

The South Dakota Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program is an initiative to improve cardiovascular health, reduce the burden, and eliminate disparities associated with heart disease and stroke. The program is led by the South Dakota Department of Health through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is a multi-level program partnering with several South Dakota organizations on key objectives. South Dakota State University is partnering with the SD-DOH on this work through our upcoming mobile clinic program.

Project Focus and Scope

In order to determine how to maximize effectiveness of the mobile clinic program, the SDSU project team will spend the first year of the project conducting needs assessments, meeting with collaborators, and paving the way for the launch of the mobile clinic in Summer 2024. More information about the clinic, including how you can get involved, will be available here as that date nears.

Until then, the project team is completing work on three main objectives:

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Community Needs Assessment

The need to improved access to cardiovascular and diabetes care in South Dakota is great, particularly in rural areas. In order to determine to how maximize effectiveness of the mobile clinic program, our team is spending the first year of this program conducting an ongoing needs assessment within our rural communities. A variety of key stakeholders, including private organizations, healthcare partners, local city and town officials, and community members are being consulted. Key points to identify through this needs assessment include assessing what services are most needed, where they are most needed, and how they can make the most meaningful impact.

More information about the community needs assessment will be available soon. If you are interested in getting involved or know of specific needs in your community, contact Dr. Jim Amell at james.amell@sdstate.edu

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Mobile Clinic Planning

In addition to determining most effective strategies for implementation, establishing partnerships with South Dakota communities, organizations, and healthcare providers is a step the project team is prioritizing in the development of the mobile clinic.

A key focus of this work is to ensure the mobile clinic supports the healthcare professionals already working in the communities we visit. Our work in this first year and throughout the project period will help to identify existing resources and how they can be supported, as well as resources that are needed but don’t currently exist. Resources to identify and support include those related to both provision of health care services and education on key health topics. By working with our growing list of community partners, we can ensure South Dakotans receive the care that they need.

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APhA Pharmacist Training

Along with the mobile clinic work, the project team is also continuing work to ensure South Dakota's including pharmacists are fully equipped to continue providing top quality care. Through the 1815 project, our team facilitated trainings for pharmacists on topics including Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and Patient-Centered Diabetes Care through the American Pharmacists Association. With the great success seen through that work, we will continue to facilitate these trainings through our current project.

Learn more and register for APhA pharmacist training

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Learn more about the South Dakota Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program

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Learn more about The 1815 Project

The 1815 Project was our previous 5-Year project focused on diabetes and cardiovascular disease in South Dakota

The 1815 Project

Principal Investigator

Co-Principal Investigator

Co-Investigators

Community Care Coordinators

Additional Faculty and Staff