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
AI |
American Indian |
AIDS |
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome |
AANHS |
Alaska Area Native Health Service |
AN |
Alaska Native |
AODA |
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse |
BIA |
Bureau of Indian Affairs |
CDC |
Centers for Disease Control |
CHA |
Community Health Aide |
CHR |
Community Health Representative |
CHS |
Contract Health Services |
COPC |
Community-Oriented Primary Care |
COSTEP |
Commissioned Officer Student Training and Externship Program |
DHEW |
Department of Health, Education and Welfare |
DHHS |
Department of Health and Human Services |
ENT |
Ear, Nose, and Throat |
HIV |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus |
IHS |
Indian Health Service |
MCH |
Maternal and Child Health |
NDOH |
Navajo Department of Health |
NFCI |
Nurse Education Center for Indians |
NIHB |
National Indian Health Board |
OHPD |
Office of Health Program Development |
OTA |
Office of Tribal Activities |
PCC |
Patient Care Component |
PHS |
Public Health Service |
RPMS |
Resource and Patient Management System |
SIDS |
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome |
TOHD |
Tohono O'odham Community Health Department |
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.