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 |
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