Skip to site content

As a result of the current Federal government funding situation, the information on this website may not be up to date or acted upon. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at www.opm.gov . Despite the lapse in appropriations, IHS will continue to provide direct clinical health care services as well as referrals for contracted services that cannot be provided through IHS clinics. For more information on how IHS is impacted, visit: HHS Contingency Plan

Newsroom

IHS Blog

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Our Community Health Representatives 1968-2018 – Standing Tall for 50 Years

December 7, 2018
by Georgianna Old Elk, IHS Community Health Representative Program Lead

This year commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the Indian Health Service Community Health Representatives Program. This milestone celebrated the tremendous strides Community Health Representatives have made in bridging the cultural, language, and systems gaps between native people and health ... Continue reading

Center of Excellence at Phoenix Indian Medical Center – Achieving Excellence in HIV and HCV Care

November 29, 2018
by Rick Haverkate, IHS National HIV & Hepatitis C Program Coordinator

Many of the health facilities of the Indian Health Service are in rural locations. Among the exceptions is the Phoenix Indian Medical Center. Clinical providers at this hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, see over 140,000 American Indian and Alaska Native patients each year, including patients referred for specialty services from rural locations. Among PIMC’s specialty services is a Center of Excellence focused on advancing and coordinating treatment of HIV, hepatitis C, diabetes, and cancer. ... Continue reading

Take Pride in Your Health with PrEP

November 28, 2018
by Christina Francisco, IHS Division of Clinical & Community Services Student Intern

American Indian and Alaskan Native people have lower survival rates from human immunodeficiency (HIV) compared to other ethnicities and face unique prevention challenges due to cultural stigma and poverty.

Dementia in Indian Country

November 21, 2018
by Blythe Sanders Winchester, MD, MPH, CMD

The most common question I get asked is “what is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?” Dementia is an umbrella term that includes a lot of different types of dementia including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Lewy Body dementia (what Robin Williams had), and frontotemporal dementia. It is also possible to have mixed dementia, which means you have more than one type. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s, followed by vascular dementia. Vascular dementia occurs because of issues relating to your blood vessels. This can include strokes, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and bleeds in the brain. ... Continue reading

Providing Diabetes Prevention, Education, and Treatment Services in Indian Country

November 20, 2018
by Dietrich T. Taylor, Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator

November is American Diabetes Month. The Indian Health Service has a program specifically tailored to Native communities called the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, also known as SDPI. SDPI was created by Congress in 1997 in an effort to combat the steadily increasing rate of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Natives. SDPI provides grants to more than 300 IHS, tribal, and urban programs to prevent, educate, and treat the high prevalence of diabetes seen in tribal nations throughout the country. The mission of the program is to provide diabetes treatment and prevention services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

STAY CONNECTED

Subscribe to get the blog by email:

Required fields are marked with an asterisk.