October 30, 2023: IHS Updates for Tribes and Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations
This bi-weekly update provides up to date information on recent events, meetings, conferences, upcoming deadlines, and recognition of the work being done across the Indian Health Service, other federal agencies, and Indian Country. For more information or questions, email IHSPublicAffairsStaff@ihs.gov.
Director Tso Visit to Tribes in the Bemidji Area
Earlier this month, Indian Health Services Director Roselyn Tso visited the Bemidji Area and met with two Tribal councils. They spoke about the shared commitment between the IHS and the Tribes to ensure that all facilities are actively meeting the needs of the Tribal communities they serve. Director Tso also met with leadership and toured several health care facilities across Michigan to see the great work being done, including the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians’ (Gun Lake Tribe) Gun Lake Tribal Health Center and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s Pine Creek Health Facility. Additionally, she visited American Indian Health & Family Services, an Urban Indian Organization in Detroit. The Director took great notice of each health center team’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional services to the patients and the community we serve.
While visiting the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians’ (Gun Lake Tribe), Director Tso was presented a talking stick and an eagle feather. In Anishinaabek communities, talking sticks are a respectful way to give each Tribal member the opportunity to speak uninterrupted. The stick is passed in a circle and the holder is encouraged to speak honestly and from the heart - the others must listen carefully and without judgment. Director Tso extends her appreciation to the Tribe for the generous gift.
Director Roselyn Tso visit the Gun Lake Tribal Health Center and receiving a talking stick and feather
Visit to the American Indian Health & Family Services
Visit to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s Pine Creek Health Facility
NATIVE HEALTH Open House
On October 14, IHS leadership attended NATIVE HEALTH’s Open House and Health Fair in Phoenix. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes was also in attendance to celebrate NATIVE HEALTH’s designation as a National Voter Registration Act site. This marked a significant milestone in our commitment to promoting access to voting for Native people. As you may know, President Biden issued an Executive Order in 2021 recognizing the unique voting barriers faced by Native communities and urged federal agencies to address these challenges. The EO also created an Interagency Steering Group on Native American Voting Rights, which release a report to recommend ways to mitigate or eliminate the barriers encountered by Native voters. As part of this effort, President Biden pledged to designate five IHS voter registration pilot sites by the end of 2023. IHS is honored to celebrate NATIVE HEALTH as the first facility to gain National Voter Registration Act designation under the Indian Health Service, in alignment with the President's vision. This momentous occasion not only signifies a step forward for voter registration in Indian Country, but also the first NVRA site designated by the Arizona Secretary of State. This designation is a step towards ensuring that Native Americans can exercise their fundamental right to vote.
(Left to Right) NATIVE HEALTH Mascot Wellbearto; IHS Deputy Director Ben Smith; Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes; IHS Senior Advisor to the Director Joshua Marshall; NATIVE HEALTH Board Treasurer Brianna Jagelski; Phoenix Area Deputy Director Rear Adm. Michael Weahkee; and NATIVE HEALTH Chief Operating Officer Deanna Sangster
IHS-Wide Virtual Career Fair
The Office of Human Resources Division of Health Professions Supportis hosting a Virtual Career Fair on November 3 from 4-7 p.m. ET. Registered participants will have the opportunity to engage with IHS recruiters from each Area to learn about current federal job opportunities posted on USAJOBS.gov. Interested participants can register here.
Now Recruiting: CHR Mini-Cog Screening Six-Month Pilot Sites
The IHS Community Health Representative Program, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Grant Program, is pleased to announce a pilot to test the use of the Mini-Cog screening tool in the community setting. This will also include identifying a simple clinical referral process for positive screenings and following local EHR/RPMS/clinical documentation approaches. The screening tool takes 3 minutes to perform and can help determine if more in-depth cognitive evaluation is needed. It’s easy to include in regular home visits, primary care visits, community health care settings, and anywhere older adults go to find needed services, such as senior centers and community organizations. This initiative follows the success of a 2023 Division of Oral Health pilot that looked at use of the tool in the dental setting.
The CHR pilot will provide $10,000 for up to 12 programs to include one from each IHS Area for their participation in the six-month pilot. Participants will be provided dementia training, Mini-Cog training, and ongoing support and training in monthly peer-to-peer collaborative webinars supported by the IHS Elder Health team, partners, and dementia experts. Interested CHR programs can contact their IHS Area CHR Representative to learn more. Applications are due by November 17.
Forensic Health Team Launches Guidebook to Enhance Care for AI/AN Patients
The forensic health team with the Division of Nursing Services is excited to share their first guidebook titled “Forensic Health Care and Caring for American Indian and Alaska Native Patients”. The purpose of this guidebook is to enhance care delivery to American Indian and Alaska Native patients, families, and communities affected by violence by providing resources and support to forensic healthcare providers serving in IHS, tribal, and urban Indian settings. As this guidebook references medical forensic examination best practices, please follow your facility’s policies, procedures, and protocols. Sign up for the Forensic Health Care Listserv for more information.
Native News Online Facebook Live Stream
On October 18, IHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Loreta Christensen participated in a livestream panel discussion on “Reducing Drug Overdose Deaths in Indian Country.” Presented by Native News Online, the panel discussed the causes of drug use in Indian Country and how Tribes, Urban Indian Organizations, and agencies like the IHS are working together to combat this crisis. Other panelists included Lummi Nation Tribal Council member and National Indian Health Board Vice Chair Nick Lewis, Shinnecock Nation Ambassador Lance Gumbs, and Dr. Aaron A. Payment, former Sault Tribe Chairperson and Vice-President of Tribal Relations and Learning at Kauffman & Associates. NNO will host a second panel discussion on October 25.
IHS CMO Dr. Loretta Christensen (lower right) participating in the live stream panel discussion: “Reducing Drug Overdose Deaths in Indian Country”
Join Indian Country ECHO Series – Dementia Caregiving or Clinical Care
The IHS Alzheimer’s Grant Program invites clinical and community staff to join ongoing dementia ECHO programs. One-hour virtual sessions include brief presentations, case presentations for the clinical ECHO, and family caregiving stories from support staff, followed by an interactive group discussion. The sessions are led by experienced faculty from Indian Country and are designed to provide mentorship, peer support, and training. These sessions are offered by partnering with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.
The Dementia Caregiver Support ECHO provides mentorship to and support for Indian health system staff to provide practical help and coaching to caregivers of American Indian and Alaska Native people living with dementia. The sessions meet on the 4th Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. ET. Past presentations are available online.
The Clinical Dementia ECHO provides comprehensive information to support clinicians in strengthening knowledge and confidence to detect, diagnose, and manage care for American Indian and Alaska Native people living with dementia. The sessions meet on the 2nd Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. ET. Past presentations are available online.
Health IT Modernization Program Update
The Health IT Modernization Program relies on partnership and collaboration during the planning, deployment and implementation of the new enterprise Electronic Health Record solution. As we build and operate the new EHR solution across Indian Country, we plan to include our partners. Our latest blog has more information on opportunities and upcoming events for our partners to participate and collaborate.
Division of Environmental Health Services Offers Long-Term Training Opportunity
This long-term training program is a two-year Master of Science in Public Health program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and through the IHS Office of Environmental Health and Engineering’s Division of Environmental Health Services. The Institutional Environmental Health Program provides leadership in the development and implementation of effective environmental health and safety management systems to reduce risks of injury and/or illness to our employees, patients, and visitors in IHS and Tribal facilities and institutions. This professional development opportunity is designed to develop highly competent and technically qualified institutional environmental health officers to enhance and advance environmental health and safety. Qualifications include: five years’ experience as a professional in environmental health and/or safety; three years’ experience in IHS and/or a Tribal detail assignment; and demonstrated commitment to institutional environmental health. For the 2024-2026 cycle, applicants must be Commissioned Corps Officers currently employed in the IHS or a Tribal program. For future cycles, both USPHS Commissioned Officers and Civil Service will be eligible. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the HQ DEHS Institutional Environmental Health Program Manager Brian Hroch at brian.hroch@ihs.gov or 240-478-2724.
Lt. Cmdr. Brandon Parker, 2021 USUHS MSPH graduate, collects data for his thesis on evaluating portable gas analyzers in measuring nitrous oxide used in dental operatories
NEW 2024 Funding Opportunity
The IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention announces a new 2024 funding opportunity for all federally recognized Tribes, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and/or federal health care facilities that currently do not have a 2023 Special Diabetes Program for Indians grant. The 2024 Special Diabetes Program for Indians 2.0 (SDPI-2) will be a 4-year program to address diabetes treatment and prevention efforts in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Applications are due by November 29, and additional application information is available on the IHS website. If you have any questions, please contact the IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention at SDPI@ihs.gov or 844-447-3387.
Now Recruiting: New Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Cohort
The IHS Division of Nursing Services, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Grant Program, will offer technical assistance, access to training resources, and reimbursement of accreditation fees for IHS and Tribal emergency departments interested in geriatric ED accreditation. Geriatric accredited EDs reduce the chance of avoidable admissions and re-visits, while improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. Join nine IHS and Tribal EDs with Bronze – Level 3 accreditation governed by the American College of Emergency Physicians. An informational webinar, IHS Geriatric ED Accreditation: Initiative Supporting Excellence in ED Care for Elders, is scheduled for November 16 at 4 p.m. ET to discuss the accreditation process and impact of GEDA. Interested Emergency Departments may register here.To learn more about GEDA or how to participate, email Ardith.Aspaas@ihs.gov or visit the IHS Alzheimer’s website.
Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence
The Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Tele-Education Program is hosting the following training for health care providers:
- “Behavioral Health Integration Webinar Series: Strategies for Breaking Down Silos (Behavioral Health & Primary Care)” on November 9 at 12 p.m. ET. Register here
Save the Date
- November 7-8: Bemidji Area Budget Formulation Consultation
- November 8: Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer: Health Information Technology Modernization The Path Forward
- November 16: DSTAC Monthly Meeting
- November 30: IHS NTAC Quarterly Meeting
- December 13: Virtual Summit with the IHS Health IT Modernization Program
IHS Blogs
- Recognizing the Value of Physical Therapy
- The Indian Health Service Highlights Red Ribbon Week
- Promoting Good Oral Health during National Dental Hygiene Month
- Partnering with the Division of Health Information Technology Modernization and Operations to Improve Health Care across Indian Country
- Recognizing Clinical Pharmacy Services across the Indian Health Service
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