Introduction

The World Wide Web is a powerful electronic communication tool that allows Indian Health Service and its employees to quickly and efficiently interact, acquire, and disseminate information with others and the public on a local, regional, and worldwide basis at a relatively low cost.

The Indian Health Service Internet web site, http://www.ihs.gov, has been in existence since October 1994 and provides a mechanism to make public information easily accessible. The IHS Intranet, http://home.ihs.gov, was established in 1996 and provides a device to keep IHS Components and staff informed of policies, news, and activities of interest to only the internal audience.

The Indian Health Service is an Operating Division (OPDIV) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Therefore, the IHS Standards and Guidelines only supplement those published by HHS: World Wide Web Applications and the Internet—Best Practices and Guidelines, http://www.hhs.gov/progorg/oirm/bestguid.html. Refer to them for guidance on matters not addressed in this document. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), http://www.w3.org/, should be referenced for additional information and guidance on topics not included in either the IHS or HHS documents.

Indian Health Service Standards and Guidelines were created to promote consistency in the development and maintenance of Internet and Intranet web sites and pages. The standards and guidelines within this document are dynamic in nature. As the World Wide Web, the Internet, technology, and IHS use of this communication medium grows, these standards and guidelines will expand and evolve. Any suggestions for modification of this document, questions about its contents, requirements for assistance in developing a web page, or concerns about ensuring that existing pages comply with these principles should be addressed to the webmaster, webmaster@ihs.gov, with reference made to "Standards and Guidelines."

This document has been prepared by the IHS Standards and Guidelines Committee, Joye Howe Chairperson, and approved by Leonard Thurman, IHS Webmaster, and Dr. Richard Church, IHS Chief Information Officer (CIO). To avoid confusion, the web version of this document should be considered the authoritative and most current version. This document is available on the IHS Internet site, http://www.ihs.gov/GeneralWeb/HelpCenter/webmaster.asp.
 

Purpose of These Standards and Guidelines

The World Wide Web (WWW) is built on standards that enable compatibility and interoperability between applications and platforms. Since the potential exists for the creation of numerous Internet and Intranet web sites and servers within IHS, it is important to establish a consistent framework for web development and maintenance throughout IHS to help users find, retrieve, and use the information they need.

If all IHS-sponsored WWW homepages adhere to a reasonable set of standards and guidelines for the organization and presentation of information, users will be able to enter the system at any point and tap not only the specific homepage they first contact, but also the full resources of the entire interlinked system of IHS materials.

This document is intended to provide standards and guidelines to ensure high quality and consistent content, organization, and presentation of information on IHS servers and web pages. At the same time, this document tries to avoid placing unnecessary constraints on the design and operation of individual IHS components; every service faces special circumstances pertaining to its particular mission, goals, content customers, technical capabilities, and organizational structure.
 

Level of Compliance