IHS Blog

Culture, Connection, and Conversation: Preventing Suicide Together

September 28, 2026
by Pamela End of Horn, DSW, LICSW, IHS National Suicide Prevention Consultant, Division of Behavioral Health

Suicide prevention begins with recognizing both the challenges people may face and the strengths that can help them navigate through hard times. For American Indian and Alaska Native people, practicing traditions, speaking Native languages, spending time with family and community, participating in ... Continue reading

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PATH EHR Go-Live: Lawton Service Unit Prepares to Lead the Way

September 21, 2026
by Jeanette Kompkoff, Director of Division of Health Information Technology Modernization and Operations, Office of Information Technology, Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service is approaching a significant milestone: the deployment of the new PATH electronic health record (EHR) at the Lawton Service Unit in Lawton, Okla. This modernization effort reflects our core commitment to design, build, and implement solutions alongside our clinical and operational ... Continue reading

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August Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Recap: Roadmap to Cohorts

September 11, 2026
by Jeanette Kompkoff, Director of Division of Health Information Technology Modernization and Operations, Office of Information Technology, Indian Health Service

The Indian Health Service Health Information Technology Modernization Program continues to prioritize direct engagement and alignment with Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations through ongoing Tribal consultation and urban confer sessions. On August 6, participants joined a ... Continue reading

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Taking Action: Working Together to Prevent Overdose

August 31, 2026
by Capt. Cynthia Gunderson, Chair of the IHS National Committee on Heroin, Opioids, and Pain Efforts

Overdose affects individuals, families, and communities, and preventing it remains an important part of the Indian Health Service’s mission. Each person’s path to treatment and recovery is different, and each of us has a role in helping connect people with the care they need.

International ... Continue reading

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Bridging the Gaps in Rural Maternal Health Care

July 22, 2026
by Cmdr. Tina Pattara-Lau, MD, FACOG, Maternal Child Health Consultant

These stories of lived experience may be familiar to staff who have provided care to families in the Indian Health Service. Since 2020, 124 rural hospitals have closed their maternity units or plan to close them before the end of this year, representing a 12 percent reduction in rural labor and delivery (L&D) services (Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform, 2026). Over one-third of U.S. counties are now considered maternity care deserts, with no access to L&D, OB/GYNs, midwives, or family practice providers.

... Continue reading