Definition of IHS

IHS The Indian Health Service, a part of the US Public Health Service within the US Department of Health and Human Services, that is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people. It has 37 hospitals, 60 health centers, 3 school health centers, and 46 health stations. It also assists 34 urban Indian health centers.

Health services are provided by the IHS to almost 1.5 million American Indians and Alaska Natives belonging to more than Federally recognized tribes through a workforce of approximately 14,500 employees and an additional tribal and urban Indian health workforce of approximately 10,000. Annually there are about 90,000 hospital admissions and 7 million outpatient visits, 4 million community health representative client contacts, and 2.4 million dental services.

The IHS was established in 1924. It is headquartered near Washington, DC in Rockville, Maryland.