title: The organization of health services for Indian people.
abstract: The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of the Public Health Service. It was formed in 1955 by a transfer of health services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior. Since that time, IHS has grown larger and more complicated and has become a truly complex national organization that is responsible for direct and contract health care services to approximately 1 million Indian people. The historical background of the Service, its present organization, and the services that it provides through a variety of organizational structures are outlined in this report.
mesh_terms: D003284:Contract Services; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D014481:United States; D014488:United States Health Resources and Services Administration / Q000458:organization & administration; D014492:United States Public Health Service / Q000458:organization & administration*