Information
Join Our Team to Make a Difference
Medical Information
The Billings Area Indian Health Service consists of 2 hospitals and 4 health clinics. We provide patient care services to Native Americans on the reservations in Montana and Wyoming. We have 3 new facilities and the other facilities have new or updated additions. The reservations range from being part of the Rocky Mountains, the Little Rocky Mountains, to the rolling plains. You can experience the Native American culture and make a difference in the lives of your patients. The Billings Area Indian Health Service seeks dedicated, qualified physicians to provide health care services to our Native population. Our health facilities are held to national accreditation standards and all independent health care practitioners are credentialed and privileged. Our facilities have state-of-the-art equipment and physicians work as a team with the other health care disciplines to be pro-active in the health care of the lives of our patients. We have physicians boarded in the specialties of Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, and Emergency Medicine. There are opportunities from teaching medical students and residents during their rotations to working on committees that deal with national issues. If you are a leader there are opportunities as the facility’s Chief Medical Officer or Clinical Director. Our mid-levels are required to have prescriptive authority and national certification. The electronic health record enables access to aspects of patient care electronically, by providing a full range of functions for data retrieval and capture to support patient review, encounter and follow-up. Consultation is available from colleagues at the work site, at other IHS medical centers, and from specialists located in nearby Billings and Great Falls, Montana. Initial credential and reference checks are performed to maintain our high standards of employing highly qualified practitioners. Site visits can be arranged to meet the medical staff and administration, visit the facility and tour the area. It is important that our practitioners embrace our mission and commitment, so we encourage the spouse to also site visit because they play a large part in the satisfaction of a career choice.
Fact Sheet for Nurses
Thank you for your recent inquiry about nursing positions within Indian Health Service, Tribal or Urban programs (I/T/U). There are 12 Areas in the Indian Health Service (IHS) serving approximately 1.6 million American Indian and Alaska Natives. Medical care is provided at more than 600 health care facilities including hospitals, health centers, school health, health stations and health clinics with over 9 million inpatient and outpatient visits per year.
Section 112 Scholarship through Montana State University-Bozeman. This is similar to the 437 scholarship but is administered through MSU-Bozeman. Contact Fredericka Lefthand at (406) 994-7684 or flefthand@montana.edu for more information.
Salish Kootenai College. SKC has special funding for Native American students. Contact Jacque Dolberry at (406) 275-4909 or jacque_dolberry@skc.edu for more information.
To check Current job listings for IHS/Tribal/Urban programs click on following link: Job Vacancies on US colored coded map, click on any IHS Area to view their current job vacancy database or go to advanced search and list “Nurse”. Each job listing usually has an icon to view the specific Vacancy Announcement (please read the announcement as it provides application procedures!). Application forms are found at the bottom of each job listing page (four icons). Click, print and complete all application forms and return to the Nurse Recruiter or person indicated on job listing. An application must be on file in each IHS Area Human Resource (HR) Office and/or as indicated on the specific vacancy announcement you are applying to for employment consideration.
Nurses hired at Indian Health Service (IHS) operated facilities are employees of the Federal Government and can choose either Civil service or Commissioned Corps employment systems.
For further information and application, visit USPHS Commissioned Corps website. Those applying for any RN / APN position must have a current, valid, unrestricted state nursing license in any of the 52 U.S. states and be a U.S. citizen. A recent RN or APN graduate must submit a copy of their final college transcript listing date and nursing degree awarded along with their application. If you are applying for RN positions considered in any specialty areas such as OR, ER, ICU, L&D, and PHN you must have at least one year work experience in the specified area of nursing to be qualified for consideration as an RN in the indicated specialty.
Preference in hiring (IHS) is given to qualified American Indian / Alaska Native candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Section 472 NS473). If there are no qualified Indian applicants, Veterans Preference and Non-Indian applicants will be given consideration in that order. Approximately 65% of all nurses working in I/T/U programs are American Indian / Alaska Native.
Nurses hired at Tribal operated facilities – “Direct Hires” are employed by the Tribe; salaries / benefits vary according to the tribe and site location. Nurses (RN, LPN, APN) applying to any tribally operated program require nurse licensure in the state where the facility is located.
IHS Loan Repayment Program
For those interested in the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP), please call (301) 443-3396 to access the LRP booklet for further information and application forms for the LRP.
The purpose of IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is to obtain health professionals to meet the staffing needs of IHS/Tribal/Urban (I/T/U) health programs. To qualify for LRP consideration, an applicant must be hired and working full-time at either a I/T/U facility. A letter from facility administration verifying hire date, position, and full-time status must be submitted along with your LRP application or be on file with LRP.
All I/T/U facilities are given annual site score ratings based on vacancy rate and need; ranking the sites by numerical scores with awards going to sites having the highest score of 100 down to 70 or until LRP funds are depleted. LRP will pay awardees up to $20,000 maximum per year in exchange for signing a minimum 2 year service contract; plus, an additional 20% will be sent to IRS to offset tax liability. Example: If student loans are less than $20,000, the amount is divided by two, equaling $10,000 each year for two year contract; plus, 20% of the award each year to IRS for taxes.
If you still have further questions please contact my office at the telephone numbers listed below and/or one of the Nurse Recruiters listed on the addendum to this Fact Sheet. Again, thank you for your interest in the IHS, Tribal and Urban Healthcare system.
Pharmacy Information
Indian Health Service pharmacists practice in a true pharmaceutical care environment where they fully utilize their knowledge and skills. Pharmacists have direct access to the patient’s medical record including laboratory tests, immunization status, past visits and medical history to assess the appropriate of drug therapy before dispensing medications. Coordination with physicians is excellent and all potential problems are resolved with the provider before dispensing. All patients are counseled about their drug therapy in a private room to assess their understanding of their drug therapy.
Dental Information
Within the Billings Area Indian Health Service Dental is located at all six service units, with a total of twelve clinics. Dental Clinics are also located at the two tribal clinics, Rocky Boy and Flathead Service Units. All level of dental care for all ages are provided except implants, with priority given to emergent care and prevention. All of the service units except Fort Belknap have position for pediatric dentists.
