Frequently Asked Questions about Indian Health Service Careers

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for providing health care services to Native Americans and Alaska Natives. IHS provides a wide range of health care services to over 2.2 million American Indian and Alaska Native people living in over 560 federally recognized tribes across the United States. Services include preventive care, primary care, mental health care, and specialty care, as well as public health and environmental health services.

You can apply for an Indian Health Service job by visiting the USAJobs website at www.usajobs.gov. Once on the site, you can search for open jobs with the Indian Health Service by using keywords or filtering by agency. After finding an open job you are interested in, you can click the "Apply" button to begin the application process.

The Indian Health Service offers a variety of jobs in healthcare, including: • Clinical Nurse • Physician • Dentist • Pharmacist • Clinical Psychologist • Health Administrator • Behavioral Health Professional • Dietitian • Health Educator • Environmental Health Specialist • Sanitarian • Health Information Technology Specialist • Public Health Advisor • Health Program Manager • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Specialist • Mental Health Counselor • Social Worker • Substance Abuse Counselor • Nurse Practitioner • Physician Assistant • Physical Therapist • Occupational Therapist • Speech Pathologist • Medical Technologist • Health Care Technician • Laboratory Technician • Health Care Interpreter • Mental Health Technician • Emergency Medical Technician • Community Health Representative

You can visit the Indian Health Service website at www.ihs.gov/jobs to find out about current job openings. You can also contact your local Indian Health Service office for more information.

In order to work for the Indian Health Service, you will need to have at least a bachelor's degree in a health-related field such as nursing, social work, public health, medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, or mental health. You may also need to have professional credentials or certifications in your field. Additionally, you may need to pass a background check and security clearance.

Yes, a degree or certification is generally required to work for the Indian Health Service. This includes a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as nursing, medical technology, or public health. Depending on the position, additional certifications or licenses may be required.

Employees of the Indian Health Service are eligible for a variety of benefits, including health insurance, life insurance, vacation and sick leave, retirement plans, educational assistance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, and other benefits.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) offers a variety of positions to support its mission to provide a comprehensive health service delivery system for American Indians and Alaska Natives. These include positions in medical and dental care, clinical and administrative support, health information technology, public health, engineering, and more. Positions include physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, clinical and health technicians, laboratory technicians, health information technology professionals, public health professionals, engineers, administrative support staff, and many other professional roles.

The pay scale for Indian Health Service jobs varies depending on the type of job and level of education and experience required. Generally, salaries range from $46,609 to $166,400 per year.

The hiring process for the Indian Health Service (IHS) follows a standard federal recruitment and selection process. Generally, the process involves the following steps: 1. Job Announcement: Job openings at IHS are posted on USAJOBS.gov, and interested applicants should review the job announcement carefully and ensure they meet all qualifications. 2. Application Process: Interested applicants must submit a complete and accurate application package, including a resume, any required supporting documents, and a completed IHS Applicant Assessment Questionnaire. 3. Assessment: All applicants are assessed to ensure they meet the job qualifications. 4. Interviews: Selected applicants may be invited to participate in an interview with IHS personnel. 5. Selection: Candidates who meet all job qualifications and are best suited for the position will be selected for the job. 6. On-boarding: Once selected, the candidate will be contacted to complete on-boarding paperwork.

The hiring process for the Indian Health Service (IHS) typically takes between two and four weeks from the time a job is posted to the time a candidate is hired. The exact timeline can vary depending on the specific job and the number of applicants.

The Indian Health Service offers a variety of on-the-job training opportunities including: 1. Clinical Training: Clinical training provides health care professionals with the opportunity to observe and participate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in an IHS healthcare setting. 2. Management Training: Management training is designed to provide managers with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage IHS programs and services. 3. Technical Training: Technical training provides health care professionals with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the use of computer and other technological systems used in IHS health care settings. 4. Leadership Development: Leadership development provides leaders with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the areas of communication, conflict resolution, team building, and problem-solving. 5. Cultural Competency Training: Cultural competency training provides health care professionals with the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in understanding and respecting the culture and values of American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is committed to providing equal opportunity in all of its programs and activities. IHS prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status. IHS is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, IHS is dedicated to creating an inclusive, respectful, and positive work environment for all employees, patients, and visitors.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides a supportive work environment that is focused on providing quality patient care. IHS employees work in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings, including hospitals, health centers, and other health care facilities. IHS also encourages its employees to participate in professional development activities and to create a positive work environment by promoting teamwork and collaboration. IHS offers competitive salaries and benefits, including health, dental, and retirement benefits.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) offers a Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirement plan, which covers both civilian and military employees. This plan includes the Basic Benefit Plan, the Thrift Savings Plan, and Social Security benefits. The Basic Benefit Plan includes a Basic Benefit Account, a Supplementary Benefit Account, and an Optional Retirement Program. The Thrift Savings Plan is a retirement savings plan that enables employees to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis. Social Security benefits are also available to IHS employees, although the amount of the benefit is based on the earnings of an individual.

Yes, the Indian Health Service (IHS) offers competitive salaries. The IHS is committed to providing a fair and competitive compensation package to its employees. IHS salaries are based on the Federal General Schedule (GS) system, which is used to determine the pay of most federal employees. In addition, IHS offers locality pay and other benefits to its employees.

Yes, the Indian Health Service (IHS) offers relocation assistance to eligible employees. Eligible employees may receive reimbursement for a variety of costs associated with relocation, such as transportation, house-hunting trips, temporary storage, and certain miscellaneous expenses.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides a variety of health insurance plans for American Indian and Alaska Native people, including: - IHS Direct Care: provides comprehensive coverage for medical, mental health, and dental services. - Purchased/Referred Care: covers medical services that are not available through the IHS. - Tribal Self-Governance: allows Tribes to contract with the IHS for medical services. - Indian Health Insurance Program: helps cover the cost of health care services and products for eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives. - Medicaid: provides health coverage to eligible individuals to cover medical costs.

Yes, the Indian Health Service offers tuition reimbursement for eligible employees who wish to pursue educational opportunities. Eligible employees may receive up to $5,250 for each fiscal year of tuition reimbursement and must meet certain criteria in order to qualify.

Yes, there are several special programs and awards available to Indian Health Service employees. These include the Indian Health Service Employee of the Year Award, the Clinical Excellence Award, the Director's Awards, the Quality Improvement Award, and the Indian Health Service Scholars Program.