There were nearly 40,000 people employed
in the health sector in South Dakota
in 2000, 11% of South Dakota‘s
total workforce. South Dakota ranked
3rd among the states in per capita health
services employment in 2000.
Health services employment in South
Dakota grew 47% between 1988 and 2000,
while the state’s population grew
by only 8%, resulting in a net per capita
growth of 35% in health services sector
employment. This exceeded the national
rate of per capita growth in the health
services sector of 21%.
The total population of South Dakota
is projected to grow 13% between 2000
and 2020, while the population 65 and
over is projected to grow 49% between
2000 and 2020.
In 1999, South Dakota was below national
rates in the rates of deaths due to
cancer, heart disease, and firearms.
There were low incidences of TB and
reported AIDS cases in 2000 population.
In 2000, South Dakota ranked 2nd among
states in the number of hospital beds
per 100,000 Highlights of the findings
about the health workforce in South
Dakota are presented below.
Medicine
There
were nearly 1,280 active patient care
physicians in South Dakota in 2000.
With 169 physicians per 100,000 population,
South Dakota fell below the national
ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000.
South Dakota ranked 36th among states
in physicians per capita.
South Dakota had 67 active primary care
physicians per 100,000 population in
2000, slightly lower than the rate of
69 per 100,000 for the entire country.
Medical schools in South Dakota graduated
52 new physicians in 1999-00. South
Dakota ranked 45th among the 46 states
with medical schools in number of medical
school graduates. On a per capita basis,
South Dakota graduated 7 new physicians
per 100,000 population, compared to
the national rate of 6.4. South Dakota
ranked 17th among the 46 states in medical
school graduates per
capita.
There were 90 physician assistants practicing
in South Dakota in 2000. This was equal
to 11.9 physician assistants per 100,000
population, lower than the national
rate of 14.4.
Nursing
There were nearly 9,600 licensed registered
nurses (RNs) in South Dakota in 2000;
over 8,500 were employed in nursing.
There were 1,126.1 RNs per 100,000 population
in South Dakota in 2000, significantly
more than the national rate of 780.2.
In 2000, South Dakota ranked 23rd among
the states in per capita employment
of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses
(LPNs), with 247.4 LPNs per 100,000
population as compared to the national
rate of 240.8 per 100,000. South Dakota
ranked 46th in the number of LPNs employed
in 2000 with 1,870 workers.
South Dakota had nearly 223 nurse practitioners
in 2000. This was equal to 29.5 nurse
practitioners per 100,000 population,
less than the national rate of 33.7.
With 15 certified nurse midwives in
2000, South Dakota had 2.0 certified
nurse midwives per 100,000 population,
lower than the national rate of 2.9.
South Dakota ranked 30th among states
in certified nurse midwives per capita.
With 225 certified registered nurse
anesthetists in 2003, South Dakota had
29.8 nurse anesthetists per 100,000
population, nearly three times the national
rate. South Dakota had the highest ratio
of nurse
anesthetists per capita in the nation.
Dentistry, Pharmacy, Mental Health
There were 315 dentists, 280 dental
hygienists, and 510 dental assistants
practicing in South Dakota in 2000.
There were 41.7 dentists per 100,000
population in South Dakota in 2000,
below the national rate of 63.6. The
per capita ratios of dental hygienists
and dental assistants were also below
their respective national rates.
The number of dentists in South Dakota
increased 6% between 1991 and 2000,
while the state’s population grew
8%. The result was a 2% decline in dentists
per capita compared to a 16% increase
nationwide.
There were 590 pharmacists and 480 pharmacy
technicians and aides practicing in
South Dakota in 2000. South Dakota had
78.1 pharmacists and 63.5 pharmacy technicians
and aides per 100,000 population in
2000, which ranked them 24th and 46th,
respectively, among the 50 states.
There were 55 psychiatrists, 110 psychologists,
and 1,990 social workers in South Dakota
in 2000. This was equal to 7.5 psychiatrists,
14.6 psychologists, and 263.3 social
workers per 100,000 population. South
Dakota ranked 39th among states in psychiatrists
per capita, 47th among states in psychologists
per capita, and 2nd among states in
social workers per capita.
Aides
There were 890 home health aides and
6,320 nursing aides, orderlies, and
attendants working in South Dakota in
2000. South Dakota had 117.8 home health
aides and 836.2 nursing aides, orderlies,
and attendants per 100,000 population
in 2000, which ranked 37th and 2n d,
respectively, among the 50 states.
