--- title: Delivering Essential Care to American Indians & Alaska Natives description: The Indian Health Service delivers comprehensive health services to millions of American Indians and Alaska Natives, representing locum tenens opportunities. --- [![VISTA-logo-primary-tagline](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VISTA-logo-primary-tagline.png?width=150&height=51&name=VISTA-logo-primary-tagline.png "VISTA-logo-primary-tagline")](https://www.vistastaff.com) # [VISTA Archived Blogs](https://blog.vistastaff.com) ## Delivering Essential Care to American Indians & Alaska Natives ![](https://blog.vistastaff.com/hubfs/vistastaff-oct2015/favicon002.png)Posted by [VISTA Staffing](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/author/vista-staffing) on Apr 6, 2017 8:30:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) If you’re a locum tenens clinician with a passion for giving back, the Indian Health Service may have the professional experience you’re looking for next. Taking on locum tenens work with [the Indian Health Service (IHS)](https://www.ihs.gov/) can help fill an essential need for a culturally rich, highly appreciative community. As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, IHS exists to uphold our federal government’s obligation to provide health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Its national network of hospitals, clinics and public health outreach programs delivers comprehensive health services to approximately 2.2 million people who belong to more than 500 federally recognized tribes across the country. ## Making Strides for a Population in Need American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer from many illnesses and diseases at much higher rates than the overall population. This includes higher rates of behavioral health issues that can have a tremendous impact on individuals, their families and entire communities. Federal, tribal and urban IHS programs focus on public health and community outreach, blending traditional practices with the modern medical model. The IHS model has made strides for Indian people, with reported health improvements including a 10-year increase in life expectancy since 1973—plus marked decreases in maternal and infant mortality, unintentional injuries and accidents, pneumonia and influenza, homicide, suicide and alcoholism. A career at IHS represents an extraordinary opportunity to continue moving the needle for an underserved population. ## Holistic Approach to Health The mission of IHS is to improve *more* than the physical well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives. They’re committed to reaching the highest level of mental, social and spiritual health possible for this population. That includes ensuring they have access to comprehensive, culturally acceptable health services, and dedicated public health professionals that respect and honor their beliefs and rights. As a locum tenens physician or advanced practitioner with IHS, your experience could mean immersion in a new location and culture, exposure to deep traditions and the opportunity to work with highly motivated health professionals. ## Is Government Work for You? We’ve been shining the spotlight on the variety of government opportunities available to locum tenens NPs, PAs, and physicians—including [serving the military](https://blog.vistastaff.com/serving-the-military-as-a-locum-tenens-clinician) and [supporting our veterans](https://blog.vistastaff.com/3-reasons-to-consider-locum-tenens-with-the-va). Our [guide to government locum tenens](https://info.vistastaff.com/give-back-through-government-locum-tenens-guide?hsCtaTracking=a61c9473-bd21-4b8f-b090-9c1769fd72f7%7C2ff40942-c2f6-45a8-af00-cc333b6f8976&__hstc=181650488.1f9d427bbdedb52a356d6014e64b4542.1478794644380.1487270838339.1487864991485.34&__hssc=181650488.2.1487864991485&__hsfp=4141495416) has the full story, including testimonials from clinicians in the field. Want to talk to someone about government work? [Contact VISTA](http://www.vistastaff.com/contact-us), or visit our [job board](http://www.vistastaff.com/job-board) to see what opportunities are currently available. 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Headquartered in Salt Lake City with additional offices in Atlanta and Houston, and employs approximately 1,000 people between corporate staff and field clinicians and contracts with over 2,500 physicians across 60+ specialties and subspecialties. VISTA helps U.S. hospitals, medical practices, and government agencies optimize their physician staffing, ensure quality and continuity of care for patients, and maintain financial stability. As a leading provider of U.S. Locum Tenens and Permanent Physician Search Services, VISTA also operates VISTA Select, a first-of-its-kind technology and services solution utilizing advanced data and analytics to provide healthcare organizations with customizable workforce optimization solutions.  ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Topic - [Physicians (95)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/physicians) - [VISTA (63)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/vista) - [Stories From VISTA Physicians (58)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/stories-from-vista-physicians) - [Advanced Practice Providers (49)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/advanced-practice-providers) - [Industry Updates (40)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/industry-updates) - [Licensing & Credentialing (27)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/licensing-credentialing) - [Locum Tenens Work (24)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/locum-tenens-work) - [Locum Tenens Clinician (18)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/locum-tenens-clinician) - [Facilities & Practices (9)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/facilities-practices) - [Locum Tenens Government (7)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/locum-tenens-government) - [Interview/Hiring Tips (6)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/interview-hiring-tips) - [HR (4)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/hr) - [Recruiting (4)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/recruiting) - [Staffing Technology (2)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/staffing-technology) - [Government (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/government) - [Labor Strategy (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/labor-strategy) - [Medical School Debt (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/medical-school-debt) - [workforce optimization (1)](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/tag/workforce-optimization) [see all](https://blog.vistastaff.com/archive/indian-health-service-delivering-essential-care-to-american-indians-alaska-natives#) ### Corporate Background At **VISTA Staffing Solutions**, we want to make it possible for you to work on your terms, allowing you to provide your expertise to those who need it most. 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