Date of Award
Spring 5-5-2026
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Biology
First Advisor
Wynette Mockler
Second Advisor
Michele Snyders
Third Advisor
N/A
Keywords
palliative care, rural, South Dakota, systems, policy, healthcare
Subject Categories
Epidemiology | Palliative Care | Rural Health
Abstract
Palliative care improves the quality of life for people living with serious illness. It helps by addressing symptoms, improving communication, and providing mental, physical, and spiritual support. However, in South Dakota access to palliative care is limited in rural areas. These challenges include geographic isolation, workforce shortages, healthcare infrastructure, reimbursement, and misunderstandings about palliative care. This thesis examines the key policy barriers that limit access to palliative care in rural South Dakota. This work involves engaging with South Dakota-specific literature, rural health research, policy sources, community education, telehealth expansion, and policy reform. By focusing on the rural context of South Dakota, this study will demonstrate that access to palliative care is both a healthcare delivery and a health equity issue.
Recommended Citation
Kadarkaraisamy, Harshavardhan, "BARRIERS TO PALLIATIVE CARE ACCESS IN RURAL SOUTH DAKOTA: A POLICY AND SYSTEM-LEVEL ANALYSIS" (2026). Honors Thesis. 436.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/436
Included in
Epidemiology Commons, Palliative Care Commons, Rural Health Commons