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- By Elyse Wild
The Indian Health Service today announced the largest hiring initiative in its 70-year history, opening thousands of positions across the agency.
The IHS, tasked with providing health care to 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives, has been plagued by underfunding and understaffing, with a historical vacancy rate of nearly-30%.
“Our top priority is filling vacancies for positions essential to keeping our health care facilities operating smoothly, especially in some of the more rural and remote locations,” IHS Chief of Staff Clayton Fulton said in a press release.
“Our friends, families, and relatives need the best available health care providers who are focused on our shared goal of raising the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level, and this hiring initiative will go far in helping us accomplish that goal. This is an exciting time to join the Indian Health Service.”
Native people suffer from chronic diseases — such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer — and have the shortest lifespan of any demographic.
Open positions at the IHS range from patient care staff to administration to public health.
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