Indian Health Service Glossary

The following terms, phrases, and acronyms, will make the story of the Indian Health Service a whole lot clearer. We suggest that if you intend to take a comprehensive tour of the Indian Health Service that you consider printing a copy of this glossary before entering. Consider it your trusty tour guide document.

Glossary of IHS Terms and Phrases

Glossary of Acronyms

Glossary of IHS Terms and Phrases

Area

A defined geographic region for Indian Health Service administrative purposes. Each Area Office administers several Service Units.

Community Health Representative (CHR)

Indians selected, employed, and supervised by their Tribes and trained by IHS to provide specific health care services at the community level.

Contract Health Services

Services not available directly from IHS or Tribes that are purchased under contract from community hospitals and practitioners.

Health Center

A facility, physically separated from a hospital, with a full range of ambulatory services including at least primary care physicians, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory, and x-ray, which are available at least 40 hours a week for outpatient care.

Health Station

A facility, physically separated from a hospital and health center, where primary care physician services are available on a regularly scheduled basis but for less than 50 hours a week.

Service Area

The geographic areas in which IHS has responsibilities-- "on or near" reservations, i.e., contract health service delivery areas.

Service Population

American Indians and Alaska Natives identified to be eligible for IHS services.

Service Unit

The local administrative unit of IHS.

User Population

American Indians and Alaska Natives eligible for IHS services who have used those services at least once during the last 3-year period.