SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Federal health officials testifying Wednesday before U.S. senators on the quality of services offered by government-run hospitals that care for Native Americans in the Great Plains will unveil a number of reforms.
The initiatives were detailed in a release to The Associated Press before the hearing.
The plans include a new multi-agency group focusing on quality and patient safety, a plan to have one accrediting organization for all Indian Health Service hospitals and training for the boards and doctors who run the hospitals.
The testimony comes weeks after federal inspections highlighted serious problems at two hospitals on South Dakota reservations and months after inspectors uncovered inadequate care for a man who died of kidney failure after going to a Nebraska hospital.
The initiatives also plan to address chronic staffing shortages.
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