Photo: Runner1928 · CC BY-SA 4.0Where Oacoma residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Oacoma, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Oacoma. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Oacoma
Oacoma is short on every kind of care federal data tracks
Oacoma’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care, dental care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓
Cancer and arthritis run high in Oacoma
1 in 9 adults have had cancer (11.4%), vs 9.2% across South Dakota. 3 in 10 adults have arthritis (30.2%), vs 25.8% across South Dakota. Age is part of it: 27% of residents are 65 or older (South Dakota 18%), and cancer and arthritis are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the South Dakota figure falls outside Oacoma’s likely range.
Care in and near Oacoma
No hospital or community health center in Oacoma itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Oacoma; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Out of every 100 Oacoma adults…
Oacoma runs below SD on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 2. Tap one to see it as people.
Oacoma is an older town: 27% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across South Dakota. Arthritis and cancer rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Oacoma as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with South Dakota
Share of adults, with the South Dakota figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Keeping up with care
Share of Oacoma adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks South Dakota.
How Oacoma adults are doing
About the same as South Dakota on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Oacoma and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oacoma Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Chamberlain Township | — | — | — | — | |
| Chamberlain | C+ | 37.9% | 13.5% | 16.3% | CDC place |
Oacoma Township and Chamberlain Township: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Oacoma adults live with a disability (South Dakota 30.1%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Oacoma
Why doesn’t Oacoma have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Oacoma.
What hospital is closest to Oacoma?
Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center in Chamberlain, 2.5 miles in a straight line from Oacoma’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Where can I get low-cost care near Oacoma?
1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is Access Health - Chamberlain in Chamberlain, 1.4 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Oacoma.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The South Dakota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.