California Area OfficeWhat is a Regional Specialty Center?
A Regional Specialty Center is a health care facility that offers the following services:
- Specialty Healthcare – Medical, Surgical and Dental Specialists
- Ambulatory Surgery and Medical Procedures
- Modern Diagnostic and Lab Services
- Telemedicine
- Short Stays
- Overnight Stays
- Intensive Care/Inpatient Services
Regional Specialty Centers would NOT offer the following services:
- Primary Care
- Emergency Care
- Maternity Care
- Walk-In Services for Local Native People
Regional Specialty Centers are designed to support, not replace or compete with, services presently offered at Tribal and Urban Indian Health Programs across the state. A patient would require a referral to be seen.
Revision of Feasibility Study
In 2013, California Area IHS completed a feasibility study on constructing Regional Specialty Centers to serve the Native American population of California. The feasibility study recommended two inpatient Regional Specialty Centers, to be located in Sacramento and Temecula.
In 2024, the feasibility study was revised to update the user population, size, services and costs. Furthermore, the updated study includes a number of measures requested by Tribal leaders to ensure the centers are more accessible for all Native people in California. Some of these modifications include:
- Patient and caregiver transportation
- On-site lodging for patents and caregivers
- Specialty caregivers traveling to Tribal or Urban sites to provide some services
- Maximizing use of telemedicine to eliminate unnecessary trips
- Both centers serving as a hub for specialty pharmacy needs and durable medical equipment
Tribal Engagement
California Area IHS conducted several consultations throughout 2022-2024 to share the Regional Specialty Centers concept to ensure Tribal representatives could provide input and guide the process. Some of the presentations for these meetings are available for download under the "Documents available for download" section.
In August 2024, after the revision of the feasibility study was complete, the California Area Tribal Advisory Committee approved IHS to move forward with the first stages of planning for the Regional Specialty Centers. A team of Tribal, Tribal health program and Urban Indian organization representatives were assembled to oversee the Scopes of Work for the initial two planning studies: the Projected Population Study and the Governance Study. These scopes of work are available for download at the bottom of this page.
For more information about the Regional Specialty Centers concept and input IHS has received from Program Directors and Tribal Leaders, please review the documents available for download below.
For additional information, CONTACT:
Jonathan Rash, PE, OEHE Associate Director
Office: (916) 930-3981, ext. 344
E-mail: jonathan.rash@ihs.gov
Ali S. Ali, PE, Director of Health Facilities Engineering
Office: (916) 930-3981, ext. 203
E-mail: ali.ali@ihs.gov
Documents available for download:
- March 2025 - Status Update on Regional Specialty Centers (PDF)
- December 2024 - Regional Specialty Centers Planning - Projected Population Study - Statement of Objectives (PDF)
- December 2024 - Regional Specialty Centers Planning - Governance Study - Statement of Objectives (PDF)
- March 2024 - Update to Tribal Leaders - Regional Ambulatory Surgical and Specialty Health Services Feasibility Study Update (PDF)
- January 2024 - Revision to the Regional Specialty Centers Feasibility Study (PDF)
- April 2023 - Update to Tribal Leaders - Regional Specialty Centers: Current Status and Next Steps (PDF)
- October 2022 - Presentation to California Area Tribal Advisory Committee (PDF)
- August 2022 - Presentation to Tribal Leaders (PDF)
- 2013 - Regional Specialty Centers Feasibility Study (PDF)
