SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Close the Indian Health Services health care facilities that are within close proximity (20-30 miles) of a regional medical care facility. Provide American Indian & Alaska Natives an IHS health care card (like a Tri-care/medicaid/medicare card) that is accepted at any health care facility.

Integrate Indian Health Service electronic medical records records with VHA records, so VHA providers can access IHS records, and IHS providers can access VHA records

This would decrease:
1) Time VHA providers and nurses spend trying to obtain IHS records
2) Time Health Information scanners spend scanning IHS records, once obtained
3) Duplication of services
4) Delays in care of Veterans, who go to both IHS and VHA providers... more »