South Dakota

• 3 years.  (South Dakota Codified Laws Ann. §15-2-14)
• Medical malpractice – 2 years.  SOL period is extended by continuous treatment.  In cases involving minors under age six, child has two years after sixth birthday to file a medical malpractice action.  In cases involving minors six years of age and older, minor must file suit within three years of malpractice. (South Dakota Codified Laws Ann. §15-2-14.1)

• Non-economic damages are limited to $500,000. (South Dakota Codified Laws Ann. §21-3-11)

• 3 years with Discovery Rule. (South Dakota Codified Laws Ann. §21-5-3)

• Noneconomic damages are limited to $500,000. (South Dakota Codified Laws Ann. §21-3-11)

• South Dakota Department of Health
• Adult Protective Services
• Adult Services and Aging
• Long Term Care Ombudsman

• Long Term Care Ombudsman Program – (South Dakota Codified Laws Ann. §§28-1-45.6-7)

• Special Focus Facilities: The Worst Nursing Homes Of All

I get a large number of questions from nursing home patients and families regarding focused on finding the 'best' facilities available.  For some reason, I get an even larger number of people who ask me who the 'worst' facilities are.  Maybe there's some sport associated with identifying these facilities? But for to today, let's feed the need to identify the poor performing nursing homes-- the Special Focus Facilities.

If you are a nursing home operator or employee the Special Focus Facility (SFF) is definitely a club you want no part of.  Rather, the SFF was created by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) as an assemblage of facilities that deserve special recognition for the inadequate care they typically provide to their patients.