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Welcome to the BEMIDJI AREA of the Indian Health Service
 
The Bemidji Area IHS Office is located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The Bemidji Area Indian Health Service provides health care to Indians/Alaska Natives in four states (Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). Until September 1994 there were only 29 tribes in the Bemidji Area, however, three addtional tribes were newly recognized in the States of Michigan with one tribe extending into Indiana. Most numerous of the 32 tribes served by the Bemidji Area are the Chippewa. Still occupying those areas today, where they earlier settled, are the Ottawa, Potawatomi, Menominee, Wisconsin Winnebago, and Sioux. Only the Oneida, a member of the Iroquois of upstate New York, and the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Band (originally from Massachusetts) were resettled in the area from greater distances. Most of the land is heavily glaciated and remains forested as part of forested lowlands. Some of the record low temperatures and some of the record snowfalls are recorded in these northern places.

Per data from the 1990 Census, the projected Fiscal Year '95 service population for these four states is 75,044. The service populations are estimated based on the official 1990 Census data of self-identified Indians who may or may not use IHS services and are projected through linear regression techniques, using ten years of Indian birth and death data provided by the National Center for Health Statistics.

 
Description of Health Facilities
 
The provision of health services in the Bemidji Area is accomplished through Indian Health Service-administered and tribally-administered operating units. There are two IHS-operated short-stay hospitals, two health centers, and five health stations/locations. Area tribes operate, under Public Law 93-638 contracts, 13 health centers and 33 health stations/locations in the Area.

Health Centers are open 40 or more hours per week with primary care providers on staff as well as comprehensive ancillary services. Health Stations and Locations are open less than 40 hours per week, some with primary care providers and limited ancillary services.

 
Description of Health Services
 
To the extent that funds permit, comprehensive health care provides for the utilization of physicians, nurses, social workers, public health nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, dentists, sanitarians, engineers, emergency medical technicians, physical therapists, community health representatives, mental health workers, substance abuse counselors, laboratory and x-ray technologists, clerks, secretaries, administrators and physician extenders -- a broad spectrum of professional, para-professional and lay personnel.

The budget is divided into direct service expenditures and contract health service (CHS) dollars, which are used when care is not available on-site at IHS or tribally-operated facilities. Non-Indian community hospitals and referral centers are used, along with alternative resources that may be available, i.e., private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and veteran's benefits.

Bemidji Area Indian Health Service
522 Minnesota Ave. NW, Room 119
Bemidji, MN 56601

Phone: 218-444-0458
FAX: 218-444-0461

The new main number is (218)444-0458 And the fax is (218) 444-0461

 
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This file last modified:   Thursday June 14, 2007  9:47 AM