# Presentation: 581043

## Your Ideal Career with IHS Public Health Professions

**Notes:**

Can we make the title changeable

## A Unique Mandate
Principal Federal healthcare provider and health advocate for 1.6 million American Indian and Alaska Native people in 35 states, served through 12 Area Offices

A Unique Mission
To raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of this diverse population to the highest level

- Principal Federal healthcare provider and health advocate for 1.6 million American Indian and Alaska Native people in 35 states, served through 12 Area Offices
**A Unique Mission**
- To raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of this diverse population to the highest level

**IHS Public Health Professions**

## Opportunity

- Multi-disciplinary healthcare approach in clinics, hospitals, and community outreach programs
- Integrated, collegial team environment
- Many modern facilities equipped with advanced technologies
- Apply skills, learn from peers, share knowledge,
-    create solutions

## Adventure

- Exceptional lifestyle opportunities
- Positions available in rural, urban/suburban areas

## Purpose

- Serve an in-need patient population
- Live and work in communities rich in culture, tradition, history

## More than 6000:
Physicians, Nurses, Dentists, Pharmacists, Engineers 
Other related healthcare providers
Caring professionals working together in the spirit of service that has distinguished the IHS for more than  50 years

- Physicians, Nurses, Dentists, Pharmacists, Engineers
- Other related healthcare providers
- Caring professionals working together in the spirit of service that has distinguished the IHS for more than  50 years

** ****We Are**

**Notes:**

We are more than 6000:
Physicians, Nurses, Dentists, Pharmacists, Engineers 
Other related health care providers
Caring professionals who have served IHS for more than 50 years

## Medicine

- Community-oriented practice in an integrated, multi-disciplinary team environment
- More than 1,000 IHS physicians
- Specialized programs include women’s health and child health, diabetes, elder care, and behavioral health
- Physicians serve as Chief Clinical Consultantsand advocates for system-wide improvementsand innovations

## Medical Specialties

- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology
- Emergency Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Internal Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurosurgery
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Ophthalmology

- Optometry
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Podiatry
- Psychiatry
- Primary Care/Family Practice
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Urology

- The need for physician care covers a wide range of
- specialties including:

## Nursing

- Provide services in IHS hospitals, clinics, and public health community outreach programs using an interdisciplinary team approach
- Serve as an advocate for improvements and innovations in patient care
- Participate in true health promotion and disease prevention activities

## Nursing

- More than 4,000 registered nurses (over 300 Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists)
- Approximately 50% of IHS nurses have a bachelor’s or advanced degree

## Nursing Specialties

- Emergency Room
- Gynecology/Obstetrics (Labor & Delivery)
- Operating Room
- Recovery Room

- Intensive Care
- Pediatrics
- Anesthesiology
- Public Health

- In addition to generalist on a medical/surgical oroutpatient/ambulatory unit, other specialty areas include

## Oral Health

- IHS dentists and registered dental hygienists meet the comprehensive oral health needs of entire communities
- More than 1,800 dentists, hygienists, and assistants
- American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer dental disease at rates several times higher than the overall US population
- 60% of vacancies are for entry level personnel
- After 2 years of service, dentists can apply for an IHS Advanced General Practice Residency as well as other specialty training opportunities as they become available

## Oral HealthOpportunities exist for dentists in a number of specialty care areas including:

- Pedodontists
- Oral Surgeons
- Endodontists
- Periodontists
- Prosthodontists
- Dental Public Health
- Orthodontists

## Pharmacy

- IHS pharmacists are fully integrated as part of the IHS Public Health Professions team
- More than 650 pharmacists operate 237 pharmacies
- Approximately 25% of IHS pharmacists have a second degree in addition to their Doctor of Pharmacy

## Pharmacy Specialties Opportunities exist for pharmacists in a number of specialty care areas including:

- Cardiology
- Diabetes
- Elder Care
- Immunization
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Patient discharge medication counseling

- Pharmacokinetic consultation
- Pediatrics
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
- Women’s Health
- Child Health

## Engineering

- IHS engineers provide the skills that make it possible for people to enjoy lives that are healthy, hygienic, and greatly improved on many levels

## Civil Engineering
Construction Engineering
Electrical & Mechanical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Sanitary Engineering

- Construction Engineering
- Electrical & Mechanical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Sanitary Engineering

**Engineering Specialties**Engineering expertise is needed in a wide range of specialty areas including:

## Career Opportunities

**The Federal Path**
- US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps
- Civil Service
**Direct Tribal Hire Path**

## USPHS Commissioned Corps

- One of the seven uniformed services
- IHS has the greatest number of assignments available to USPHS commissioned officers
- Excellent employment benefits
- Minimum two year commitment

## USPHS Commissioned Corps

**Eligibility Requirements**
- US citizenship
- Medical physical
- Minimum two year commitment
- Must be under 44 at time of commission

## USPHS Commissioned Corps

**Eligibility Requirements**
- Registered Nurses and Registered Hygienists: Fully accredited baccalaureate degree and valid license from any US state
- Physicians and Dentists: Degree and valid license from any US state
- Pharmacists: Graduate of an ACPE accredited college of pharmacy and unrestricted pharmacy license from any US state within one year of graduation

## USPHS Commissioned Corps

**Benefits**
- 30 days annual paid vacation
- 10 paid Federal holidays
- Sick leave/maternity leave as needed
- Comprehensive health care

## USPHS Commissioned Corps

**Benefits**
- No-cost malpractice coverage
- Continuing education – availability and reimbursement vary by profession, position, and location
- Non-contributory (employee funded) retirement
- Thrift savings (contributory) retirement

## USPHS Commissioned Corps

**Benefits**
- Non-taxable housing allowance
- No clinical overhead costs
- Moving expenses
- Veterans Administration (VA) benefits after 2 years of service, including home mortgages and educational benefits
- Free space-available travel on military aircraft
- Shopping privileges at military commissaries, post/base exchanges
- Transient officer quarters

## Civil Service

- IHS has the largest number of positions available of any HHS Agency
- Excellent employment benefits
- Negotiable starting salary for some professions

## Civil Service

**Eligibility Requirements**
- US citizenship
- Negotiable employment commitment
- No age requirement
- No physical required

## Civil Service

**Eligibility Requirements**
- Physicians and Dentists: Degree and valid license from any US state
- Pharmacists: Pharmacy degree (BS or PharmD) from an ACPE accredited school of pharmacy and a valid license from any US state
- Registered Nurses: Diploma, ADN or BSN and valid RN license from any US state
- Registered Hygienists:  Degree and valid license from any US state

## Civil Service

**Benefits**
- Competitive starting salary and benefits
- Eligible for transfer after 2 years
- 13 days paid vacation to start
- 10 paid Federal holidays
- 13 days sick leave per year

## Civil Service

**Benefits**
- Continuing education – availability and reimbursement vary by profession, position, and location
- Comprehensive health care
- No-cost malpractice coverage
- No overhead expenses

## Civil Service

**Benefits**
- Comprehensive retirement program
- Contributory Thrift savings retirement plan withgovernment match
- Up to 5 years of retirement credit transferable to employment with Commissioned Corps

## Direct Tribal Hire

- 560 Federally recognized Tribes in 35 States
- Employment and benefits vary by Tribe
- Positions available in rural, urban/suburban areas
- Benefits are competitive with those of Federal personnel systems

## IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

- Open to Commissioned Corps, Civil Service and Direct Tribal Hire employees working for IHS or Tribal programs
- Maximum $24,000 per year award includes an allocation for taxes
- Is in addition to salary

## IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

**Eligibility Requirements**
- U.S. citizenship
- Job offer contingent upon obtaining a license to practice
- Available to start by September 30
- Commitment of 2 continuous years in full-time clinical practice at an IHS or Tribal facility, or in an approved Indian health program from the date the award is made
- After the initial 2 years, LRP awards are on an annual basis

## IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP)

**Award Process **
- Awards made on a monthly basis
- 1st round January
- Registered Dental Hygienist awards start August
- Funded at approximately $16.5 million annually
- Monthly award cycles continue until all funds are awarded

## Supplemental Loan Repayment (SLRP) 

- Offered by a specific site rather than nationally
- Must work at site for 2 years
- Guaranteed for 2 years
- After 2 years, SLRP award may be extended, or you have the option to compete nationally

## Student Externships Opportunities

- Opportunity to experience IHS and gain professional experience
-  Three programs:
-  IHS Externship
-  JRCOSTEP
-  SRCOSTEP

## IHS Externship 

- Minimum time commitment of 2 weeks
- Limited positions (due to available housing)
- High demand
- Work with school externship coordinator

## JRCOSTEP 

- Junior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program
- USPHS Commissioned Corps
- Travel paid to and from site
- Salary paid at an Ensign Officer level
- Assignments at IHS and Tribal sites
- Placement for 31 to 120 days during the summer or other official school breaks

## JRCOSTEP 

- No obligation to serve in the Commissioned Corps after graduation
- Opportunity for extended active-duty assignment after graduation
- JRCOSTEP time is credited toward Commissioned Corps pay and retirement

## JRCOSTEP 

- Must be in a commissionable Bachelors degree or higher degree program
- Pharmacists = Doctor of Pharmacy program
- Apply promptly and early
**September 1 – December 31** for positions during the following May 1 – August 31
**January 1 – April 30** for positions during the following September 1 – December 31
**June 1 – September 30** for positions during the following January 1 – April 30
- Additional information at _[www.usphs.gov/html/jrcostep.html](http://www.usphs.gov/html/jrcostep.html)_

## SRCOSTEP 

- Senior Commissioned Officer Student Training and Extern Program
- USPHS Commissioned Corps
- Salary paid at an Ensign Officer Level during senior year
- Tuition and Fees paid in some instances
- Assignments at IHS and Tribal sites

## SRCOSTEP 

- Commitment to serve in the Commissioned Corps after graduation for twice the time sponsored (i.e., 12 months of financial support = 24-month employment commitment)
- Additional information at _[www.usphs.gov/html/srcostep.html](http://www.usphs.gov/html/srcostep.html)_

## SRCOSTEP 

- Must be in a commissionable Bachelors degree or higher degree program
- Pharmacists = Doctor of Pharmacy program
- Apply promptly and early
- Apply in the 3rd year of school for SRCOSTEP beginning in the fall of the 4th year
- Postmarked by December 31
- Additional information at _[www.usphs.gov/html/srcostep.html](http://www.usphs.gov/html/srcostep.html)_

## Travel & Housing for COSTEP

- All travel arrangements made on a preauthorized government travel order and IHS buys airline ticket
- Driving to site is an option with mileage or airline equivalent reimbursement
- Housing and food may be available at the site
- No rental cars available

## Nationwide Locations & Facilities 

- Where could you be located?
- Remote sites
- Rural sites
- Urban sites

## Remote Site 

**Pawnee Health Center**
- Located in Pawnee, Oklahoma, 48 miles west of
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Provides ambulatoryhealth care, dentistry,human services,optometry, communityhealth nursing,pharmacy, laboratory,radiology, andnutrition services.

## Rural Site 

**Lame Deer, Montana**
- Northern Cheyenne Health Center
- Located in Lame Deer, MT
- 115 miles east ofBillings, Montana

## Rural Site 

**Lame Deer, Montana**
- Northern Cheyenne Health Center
- Provides direct ambulatory,emergency, dental,environmental health,community health, andpreventive health services

## Rural Site 

**Ft. Defiance, AZ**
- Fort Defiance Indian Hospital
- Located in Fort Defiance, AZ
- 168 miles west of Albuquerque,NM and 193 miles eastof Flagstaff, AZ

## Rural Site 

**Ft. Defiance, AZ**
- Fort Defiance Indian Hospital
- Licensed for 56 inpatient beds and includes a 24/7 Level 2 Emergency Room, 65-exam room Ambulatory Care Center and 24 chair Dental Clinic

## www.careers.ihs.gov

##    Discipline Specific Link on Website

## Questions and Answers

**Questions and Answers**

**For more information contact**:
- Ed Stein
- 1-602-364-7745
- E-mail: edward.stein@ihs.gov
- Request information: www.pharmacy.ihs.gov