IHS can close emergency room in South Dakota

Tuesday, August 7, 2007  

The Indian Health Service can close an emergency room In South Dakota now that a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Yankton Sioux Tribe.

The facility in Wagner was built to serve the tribe. But the IHS has been trying to cut back on the 24-hour service since 1994.

Judge Lawrence Piersol put the move on hold last September but recently lifted a restraining order against the IHS. He said the tribe failed to show its rights were violated.

South Dakota's Congressional delegation opposes the reduction of services at the clinic. They asked IHS Director Charles Grim to keep the emergency room open.

"Continued 24-hour service at the facility is critical to the health and well-being of the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the surrounding community," the delegation wrote in a letter.

Get the Story:
Judge says Wagner IHS emergency room can close (AP 8/7)

$rl Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov

Related Stories:
Judge orders IHS to keep emergency room open (10/2)
Editorial: Good work in keeping tribe's ER open (02/16)
Yankton Sioux Tribe emergency room gets reprieve (02/01)
Yankton Sioux Tribe emergency room gets reprieve (02/01)
Yankton Sioux Tribe to lose emergency room (01/23)