Implementation of Indian Health Service Patient Protection Policies in Healthcare Facilities

Details surrounding the recent convictions of a former Indian Health Service (IHS) physician for patient abuse raised concerns about IHS policies and procedures to prevent and address patient abuse. IHS partners with 573 federally recognized Tribes to provide healthcare services to its 2.6 million American Indian and Alaska Native beneficiaries, and IHS directly operates 24 hospitals, 51 health centers, 24 health stations, and 2 school health centers. In February 2019, IHS issued new policies to protect children from sexual abuse by healthcare providers. This study is conducted in two phases. Phase 1 inventoried and examined IHS nation-wide policies and procedures for preventing, reporting, and addressing patient abuse and identified progress and potential challenges to their effective implementation. Phase 2 will evaluate the sufficiency and implementation of these policies at the facility level. We will administer a survey to leadership at all IHS-operated healthcare facilities, conduct interviews with leadership and staff at selected facilities, and review relevant supporting documentation.

Announced or Revised	Agency	Title	Component	Report Number(s)	Expected Issue Date (FY)
May 2020	Indian Health Service	Implementation of Indian Health Service Patient Protection Policies in Healthcare Facilities	Office of Evaluation and Inspections	OEI-06-19-00331	2021