The Parker Indian Health Center in Parker, Arizona. Photo by Churl Han
It's no secret that the Indian Health Service is woefully inadequate, as just about any tribal citizen or tribal leader knows. “Right now the government is doing a terrible job of providing health care for Native Americans,” National Congress of American Indians Brian Cladoosby told The Washington Post. Victoria Kitcheyan, the treasurer for the Winnebago Tribe, is even more blunt. She said the Omaha Winnebago Hospital on her reservation is responsible for lost lives. It's been said in my community that the Winnebago Hospital is the only place you can legally kill an Indian," Kitcheyan told the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in February. Two new investigative reports confirm Kitcheyan's and Cladoosby's concerns. Lack of staffing, improper training, vacancies in leadership and outdated facilities are causing harm to tribal citizens, according to the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services. The IHS is taking steps to address long-standing quality of care issues, the agency said in a statement to The Post in response to the two reports. “IHS concurs with the recommendations . . . and is committed to building on efforts currently underway to correct the service issues," the IHS told The Post. Read More on the Story:
Sewage in hospital operating room among poor Indian health conditions (The Washington Post 10/14)
Why Care at Native American Hospitals Is Often Substandard (AP 10/8) Inspector General Reports:
Indian Health Service Hospitals: More Monitoring Needed to Ensure Quality Care (October 7, 2016)
Indian Health Service Hospitals: Longstanding Challenges Warrant Focused Attention to Support Quality Care (October 7, 2016)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Investigation
confirms problems at Indian Health Service facilities (10/7) Indian Health Service names new medical officer in Great Plains (09/23)
Indian Health Service awards large contract in Great Plains Area (9/20)
Native Sun News Today: Urban Indians lose emergency services (9/20)
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs schedules business meeting (09/19)
House committee considers bill to reform Indian Health Service (09/14)
Indian Health Service crisis continues with shutdown at hospital (9/14)
Tim Giago: Our people are dying too young and without dignity (09/12)
Indian Health Service hosts meeting with Direct Service Tribes (08/30)
Indian Health Service sued for delay in removing needle from patient's foot (08/16)
Tribal Leaders: The Indian Health Service can't be fixed overnight (08/12)
Native Sun News: Indian Health Service eyes new hospital in Rapid City (07/28)
Lakota Country Times: No call to fully fund Indian Health Service (07/19)
Indian Health Service to reopen emergency room in South Dakota (07/14)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe struggles with shutdown of emergency room (7/13)
Indian Health Service remains on defensive as troubles continue (7/13)
Great Plains tribes testify on bill to reform Indian Health Service (7/12)
Bill to reform Indian Health Service up for first hearing in House (7/11)
Mike Rounds: Improving the Indian Health Service for tribal citizens (07/08)
Mary Smith: Indian Health Service takes action to stop opioid abuse (07/07)
Ernestine Chasing Hawk: Mismanagement at Indian Health Service (07/07)
Sen. Mike Rounds formally requests audit of Indian Health Service (07/06)
Indian Health Service adopts policy for prescription drug monitoring (07/06)
Mark Trahant: Bernie Sanders is right about Indian Health Service (07/01)
Mark Trahant: A Republican plan to terminate the Indian Health Service (06/23)
Native Sun News: Senate committee takes on Indian Health Service (06/23)
Indian Health Service expresses support for reform bill in Senate (06/17)
Local station to broadcast field hearing on Indian Health Service (6/16)
Lakota Country Times: Senate committee lands in South Dakota (6/16)
Lakota Country Times: Lawmakers focus on Indian health care (6/15)
Indian Health Service diverts care again at South Dakota hospital (6/14)
Hearing on Indian Health Service draws South Dakota delegation (6/14)
Indian Health Service diverts care again at South Dakota hospital (6/14)
Kristi Noem: Indian Health Service fails to uphold responsibilities (6/13)
Great Plains tribes call for closure of Indian Health Service office (6/13)
Bill seeks random drug tests for Indian Health Service employees (6/10)
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs set for South Dakota hearing (6/10)
Indian Health Service cites progress at hospital in South Dakota (6/9)
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hosts town hall in South Dakota (06/07)
Lakota Country Times: Pine Ridge Hospital sees shakeup in staff (6/7)
North Dakota tribes share frustrations with Indian Health Service (6/3)
Spirit Lake Nation eyes better care at Indian Health Service clinic (6/3)
Indian Health Service considers changes in troubled Great Plains (6/2)
Indian Health Service asks tribes about community health aides (6/1)
Field hearing in South Dakota on Indian Health Service reform bill (5/31)
Indian Health Service reaches first tribal compact in Great Plains (5/31)
Native Sun News: Longtime Indian Health Service staff reassigned (5/31)
Indian Health Service reform efforts gaining steam on Capitol Hill (5/25)
Indian Health Service announces more hires at troubled hospital (5/25)
Indian Health Service facility cited for treatment of 6-month-old (5/24)
Another Indian Health Service facility in Great Plains threatened (5/23)
Roger Birdbear: Obamacare can help address shortfalls at IHS (5/23)
Indian Health Service hires contractor to run emergency rooms (05/18)
Indian Health Service questioned over efforts in troubled region (5/16)
Sen. Rounds seeking support for audit into Indian Health Service (5/12)
Mike Myers: Indian Health Service carries out cultural colonization (05/09)
Lakota Country Times: Rosebud Sioux Tribe sues IHS over shutdown (05/06)
Sen. Rounds to seek system-wide review of Indian Health Service (05/05)
Indian Health Service reaches agreements for troubled facilities (05/02)
Indian Health Service faulted for lengthy waits in patient care (04/29)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe sues Indian Health Service over 'crisis' in care (04/28)
John Thune: Tribal citizens suffer at hands of Indian Health Service (04/27)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe kept in dark about IHS emergency room contract (04/25)
Bill aims to restore some 'RESPECT' in dealings with Native people (04/20)
Indian Health Service seeks new contracts for emergency rooms (04/20)
Lakota Country Times: Oglala leader demands closure of IHS office (04/18)
President of Oglala Sioux Tribe welcomes scrutiny of IHS hospital (04/12)
Indian Health Service sued for patient death in Great Plains Area (04/11)
Mike Rounds: Indian Health Service creates crisis in Great Plains (04/11)
Indian Health Service failing to make progress in troubled region (04/11)
New leader of Indian Health Service promises fixes in Great Plains (04/07)
Indian Health Service recommended hospital executive for DC job (04/07)
New leader of Indian Health Service plans big trip to Great Plains (03/23)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe left 'high and dry' by IHS hospital executive (03/21)
Indian Health Service extends comment period on emergency fund (03/11)
Indian Health Service aims to save certification for troubled facility (03/09)
Mary Smith: Bringing more accountability to Indian Health Service (03/09)
New leader of Indian Health Service to testify about budget request (03/08)
IHS facility on Rosebud Sioux Reservation loses key certification (03/03)
Cherokee Nation citizen Mary Smith to helm Indian Health Service (03/01)
Editorial: Quality of Indian Health Service is a scandal in Montana (02/29)
Mike Myers: Exposing problems at the Indian Homicide Service (02/25)
Rosebud Sioux Tribe frustrated by treatment from HHS agencies (02/17)
Another IHS hospital threatened with loss of Medicare funding (02/16)
Brandon Ecoffey: Treaties guaranteed health care for our people (02/11)
Six of 12 Indian Health Service area directors in 'acting' capacity (02/10)
President Obama seeks another increase for Indian Health Service budget (02/10)
Kristi Noem: Indian Health Service remains in a state of emergency (02/10)
Tribal leaders question management changes at IHS in Great Plains (02/04)
IHS chief medical officer apologizes for comments about newborns (02/04)
Indian Health Service makes changes ahead of big Senate hearing (02/03)
Witness list for Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing into IHS (02/01)
Inspections of IHS facilities in Great Plains turn up big problems (1/28)
Senate committee reschedules IHS hearing and listening session (01/25)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee expands look at substandard IHS (1/22)
Senate Indian Affairs Committee to look at 'substandard' care at IHS in Great Plains (01/12)
Mary Annette Pember: Native women affected by cutbacks at IHS (12/29)
Lakota Country Times: IHS restricts care at Rosebud hospital (12/24)
