Indian Health Services Program
Erika
Western Governors University

* * * * The Indian Health Service (IHS) was established in 1955 as a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Service. IHS primary responsibilities include providing health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The goal of IHS is to raise the health status of the Indian population to the highest possible level while providing health services to Indians from 566 Tribes across the United States. The mission of IHS is to raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level. (“Agency Overview,” n.d.) * In order to support their mission in raising the health status to the highest possible level and to improve and protect the health of every community, the IHS facilities have chosen to participate in accreditation through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Accreditation through JCAHO provides many positive benefits and outcomes for the IHS. By seeking accreditation through JCAHO, the community and patients in the IHS system are able to recognize that IHS is committed to clinical quality. JCAHO accreditation sets standards on levels of quality assessment and quality improvement activities. JCAHO monitors programs that are in place within the organization and reviews policies and procedures to ensure life-safety standards are being met. The benefits to IHS in obtaining JCAHO accreditation can be realized with an increase in efficiency throughout the organization thereby reducing cost and lowering liability insurance premiums. (“Accreditation,” 2007, Chapter 7) An additional benefit of JCAHO accreditation is that through obtaining accreditation, IHS becomes eligible for reimbursement by many third party payers and immediately becomes eligible