[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72642-72644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23659]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Albuquerque Area Office (GFC), Organization, Functions, and 
Delegations of Authority

Office of the Area Director (GFC1)

    By specific delegation from the Director, Indian Health Service 
(IHS), the Office of the Area Director, plans, develops, directs and 
evaluates the area's activities within the framework of IHS policy in 
pursuit of the IHS mission by: (1) Assuring professional fiscal 
accountability at all levels within the Albuquerque Area and 
maximization of revenue generation; (2) assuring all product and 
service quality is routinely evaluated, with supporting documentation 
of continuous monitoring and performance improvement; (3) assuring the 
public health by continuous improvement in preventive activities; and 
(4) fostering and expecting, accepting no less than maximum effort, in 
communication and collaboration efforts with IHS and non-IHS sources 
and sources all within the legal framework of the Agency.

Tribal Support Staff Office

    The Tribal Support Staff Office is responsible for four major 
program activities: (1) Tribal consultation; (2) program planning, 
analysis, and evaluation methodologies and activities; (3) Public Law 
93-638 Indian Self-Determination; and (4) Tribal liaison activities.

Office of Operational Support (GFC2)

    The Office of Operational Support is responsible for the overall 
fiscal accountability of the Albuquerque Area. This includes the 
supervision and management of: (1) All fiscal and

[[Page 72643]]

human resources; (2) revenue generation monitoring and accountability; 
(3) appropriate and timely expenditure of funds; (4) accurate and 
timely reports; (5) oversees communication with managers responsible 
for the fiscal health of facilities to which assigned; (6) evaluates 
fiscal health and resource accountability; (7) provides official 
financial information relative to any and all Tribal contracting and/or 
compacting activity; and (8) establishes and directs boards of inquiry 
to protect all area resources.

Division of Financial Management (GFC21)

    The Division of Financial Management role in operational support 
activities is recognized by: (1) Formulates fiscal budget activities; 
(2) determines funding amounts available for Tribal share distribution; 
(3) prepares operating budget authority documents to distribute funds 
to service units, programs, areas division and Tribal contractors; (4) 
oversees and consuls on proper cost accounting and cost reporting; (5) 
oversee the overall accounting, financial reporting, reconciliation and 
payment functions for the Albuquerque Area and Headquarters West; (6) 
certifies all travel payments; (7) reconciles with service unites, area 
office divisions, and the U.S. Treasury; (8) performs internal control 
reviews for the area; (9) oversees Tribal shares distribution and 
payments; (10) educates, directs and monitors Tribes working within the 
IHS accounting processes; (11) communicates and collaborates with 
Tribes and Tribal groups wishing to use IHS accounting practices within 
their organization or when necessitated by 638 activity; (12) 
investigates and collects Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (FMCRA) 
reimbursements; and (13) oversees Contract Health Services activities 
in the areas of Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF), Fiscal 
Intermediary contact, field support, training and productivity; and 
denials and appeals.

Division of Human Resources (GSC22)

    The Division of Human Resources: (1) Plans, implements, 
coordinates, and evaluates civil service and commissioned officer human 
resources program; (2) develops operating personnel policies, and 
assures a supportive human resources program which meets the human 
capital framework of the area; (3) administers operating personnel 
policies, position classification and pay management, recruitment and 
staffing, employee relations, labor management, employee development; 
personnel records and reports; (4) conducts training courses for 
supervisory and non-supervisory staff; (5) maintains pertinent federal 
personnel regulation guidelines; (6) serves as principal advisor to the 
Area Director, Executive Officer, area staff, and service unit staff in 
matters relating to human resources; (7) keeps current on development 
of Tribal health activities as they relate to the area human resources 
program; and (8) establishes, maintains, and promotes liaison with 
community, Tribal, civic groups, professional organizations, colleges, 
universities, and other agencies as appropriate.

Division of Contracts (GFC23)

    The division of Contracts: (1) Plans, implements, coordinates, and 
evaluates the area contract program within established requirements and 
authorities; (2) interprets federal contract, grant and procurement 
regulations, policies, procedures, and practices; (3) provides 
technical assistance to Indian Tribes, Indian and urban Indian 
organizations in the development of activities related to procurement 
capabilities; (4) maintains the federal procurement regulation manuals 
and the HHS Grant Administration manuals; (5) provides delegations of 
authority for service unit procurement; (6) evaluates service unit 
procurement operations; and (7) keeps abreast of current development of 
Tribal health activities as they relate to the contract, grant and 
procurement activity.

Division of Information Management Services (GFC24)

    The Division of Information Management Services: (1) Provides 
advice on area policies and procedures related to data processing, 
computer software, computer equipment, and telecommunications; (2) 
provides technical support on data processing services and software 
applications to the area and service units; (3) assesses area needs for 
information technology and advises on alternatives; (4) provides 
training to improve utilization and understanding of information 
technologies; and (5) works with Headquarters Division of Information 
Resources (DIR), to design and develop systems that are responsive to 
area needs; and provides Tribal support through consultation and 
collaboration of an integrated reporting system.

Office of Clinical Care Programs (GFC3)

    The Office of Clinical Care Programs is responsible for the overall 
effectiveness of direct health care and public health (prevention) 
programs. This office plans, implements, directs, coordinates and 
evaluates the patient and community care programs throughout the 
Albuquerque Area health care system. This office oversees: (1) Planning 
facilities and patient care; statistical data preparation and 
interpretation; (2) integrated health systems; (3) medical informatics; 
(4) epidemiology; (5) contract health program management; (6) clinical 
nursing; (7) diabetes prevention and treatment; (8) public health 
nursing; (9) Community Health Representative/Emergency Medical Services 
Tribal program support and monitoring; (10) behavioral health efficacy; 
(11) optometry; (12) health care professional recruitment and 
retention; (13) sets productivity thresholds for professional staff; 
(14) ascertains costs of services by health care professional; (15) 
oversees the scholarship program; (16) provides training, recruitment 
and retention reports and orientation programs; (17) serves as the 
expert in clinical programs for the Albuquerque Area; and (18) serves 
as liaison for clinical tort claims, sentinel events and risk 
management issues.

Albuquerque Area Dental Program (GFC31)

    The Albuquerque Area Dental Program is responsible for providing a 
full range of comprehensive general dental services including the 
specialty services of a prosthodontist, a periodontist, a pedodontist, 
and an orthodontist to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native 
patients. This is a demand care program with emphasis on meeting family 
needs in a community setting. Preventive and direct care dental 
services constitute the main thrust of its activities.

Division of Clinical Quality (GFC32)

    The Division of Clinical Quality: (1) Coordinates clinical 
technical assistance that impacts on quality performance and promotes 
collaboration to improve quality care; (2) oversees the diabetes/public 
health nursing and clinical nursing programs; behavioral health 
program; provider recruitment program; and the CHR/EMS program; and (3) 
provides area-wide technical support in the clinical programs and 
quality council.

Office of Environmental Health & Engineering (GFC4)

    The Office of Environmental Health and Engineering: (1) Administers 
the area health facilities management, sanitation facilities 
construction, environmental health services, and the

[[Page 72644]]

national environmental health support functions; (2) serves as the 
principal advisor to the Area Director, area staff, and service unit 
staff on all environmental health matters; (3) coordinates activities 
to promote a safe and healthful environment in IHS facilities and 
Indian communities; (4) constructs, improves, extends or otherwise 
provides essential sanitation facilities for Indian homes and 
communities; and (5) maintains liaison and coordinates environmental 
activities with Tribes, area programs, state and local governments, and 
other outside groups.

Division of Health Facilities (GFC41)

    The Division of Health Facilities: (1) Plans, implements, directs, 
coordinates and evaluates the area health facilities operation and 
maintenance program; (2) serves as the liaison with Headquarters and 
Engineering Services in Dallas; (3) provides resource coordination; (4) 
advises service units on Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning 
(HVAC) & energy issues; (5) advises the service units on construction & 
utility issues; (6) plans, designs, constructs, and improves IHS Area 
health facilities; and (7) plans, coordinates, and evaluates the 
Biomedical Engineering Program.

Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction (GFC42)

    The Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction: (1) Funds 
construction of water supply and waste disposal facilities for Indian 
homes and communities; (2) provides professional engineering design and 
construction services for water supply and waste disposal facilities; 
(3) assists Tribes with planning and coordination of multi-agency 
funded sanitation projects; and (4) provides technical consultation and 
training to improve the operation and maintenance of Tribally owned 
water supply and waste disposal systems.

Division of Environmental Health Services (GFC43)

    The Division of Environmental Health Services: (1) Strives to 
enhance the health and quality of life of Indian people by eliminating 
environmentally related disease and injury through sound public health 
measures; (2) surveys a wide variety of community facilities, such as 
schools, community buildings, foods service operations, water supply 
and waste disposal facilities, and makes recommendations for 
improvement of environmental health deficiencies; (3) provides 
Institutional Environmental Health Services to comprehensively address 
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) 
requirements, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
(OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other mandated health 
activities; (4) coordinates community injury prevention activities for 
the Area; and (5) provides technical consultation, assistants and 
training to Tribes on environmental health topics.

Division of Property and Asset Management (GFC44)

    The Division of Property and Asset Management: (1) Manages and 
controls the area-wide Real Property Program; (2) manages and controls 
the area Personal Property Program; and (3) the reception and security 
of the building.

Environmental Health Support Center (GFC45)

    The Division of Environmental Health Support provides: (1) 
Nationwide training and technical support in the areas of environmental 
health and injury prevention, engineering, management, and facilities 
operation and maintenance for the IHS; (2) schedules, coordinates and 
documents Area program reviews and consultations; (3) provides national 
support and representation on behalf of IHS in interagency workgroups 
and forums; and (4) coordinates national emergency response activities 
on behalf of the IHS.
    This reorganization shall be effective on December 6, 2005.

    Dated: November 28, 2005.
Charles W. Grim,
Assistant Surgeon General, Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 05-23659 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-M