Indian Health Service Glossary
The following terms, phrases, and acronyms, will make the story of the Indian Health Service a whole lot clearer. We suggest that if you intend to take a comprehensive tour of the Indian Health Service that you consider printing a copy of this glossary before entering. Consider it your trusty tour guide document. Glossary of Acronyms
Glossary of IHS Terms and Phrases
Glossary of Acronyms
AI
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American Indian
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AIDS
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Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
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AANHS
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Alaska Area Native Health Service
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AN
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Alaska Native
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AODA
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Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
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BIA
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Bureau of Indian Affairs
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CDC
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Centers for Disease Control
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CHA
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Community Health Aide
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CHR
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Community Health Representative
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CHS
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Contract Health Services
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COPC
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Community-Oriented Primary Care
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COSTEP
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Commissioned Officer Student Training and Externship Program
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DHEW
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Department of Health, Education and Welfare
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DHHS
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Department of Health and Human Services
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ENT
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Ear, Nose, and Throat
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HIV
|
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
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IHS
|
Indian Health Service
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MCH
|
Maternal and Child Health
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NDOH
|
Navajo Department of Health
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NFCI
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Nurse Education Center for Indians
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NIHB
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National Indian Health Board
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OHPD
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Office of Health Program Development
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OTA
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Office of Tribal Activities
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PCC
|
Patient Care Component
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PHS
|
Public Health Service
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RPMS
|
Resource and Patient Management System
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SIDS
|
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
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TOHD
|
Tohono O'odham Community Health Department
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Glossary of IHS Terms and Phrases
- Area
- A defined geographic region for Indian Health Service administrative purposes. Each Area Office administers several Service Units.
- Community Health Representative (CHR)
- Indians selected, employed, and supervised by their Tribes and trained by IHS to provide specific health care services at the community level.
- Contract Health Services
- Services not available directly from IHS or Tribes that are purchased under contract from community hospitals and practitioners.
- Health Center
- A facility, physically separated from a hospital, with a full range of ambulatory services including at least primary care physicians, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory, and x-ray, which are available at least 40 hours a week for outpatient care.
- Health Station
- A facility, physically separated from a hospital and health center, where primary care physician services are available on a regularly scheduled basis but for less than 50 hours a week.
- Service Area
- The geographic areas in which IHS has responsibilities-- "on or near" reservations, i.e., contract health service delivery areas.
- Service Population
- American Indians and Alaska Natives identified to be eligible for IHS services.
- Service Unit
- The local administrative unit of IHS.
- User Population
- American Indians and Alaska Natives eligible for IHS services who have used those services at least once during the last 3-year period.
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