Organizational Challenges to Improving Quality of Care in Indian Health Service Hospitals

IHS provides comprehensive Federal health services to approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. OIG and others have found significant problems in the quality of care and oversight of IHS hospitals. This study identifies underlying organizational challenges that may hamper IHS's ability to address critical longstanding problems. At times these issues have had serious consequences, including difficulty maintaining compliance with Federal quality-of-care requirements. IHS has made important new plans for improving the quality of care that it provides in its hospitals. However, if underlying organizational challenges are not addressed, they may prevent IHS from bringing its full organizational strength to these efforts.