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.
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