Indian Health Service (IHS)

[caramel123]

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Has anyone heard anything about them in regards to doing a residency? Pros/cons?

 

[cycloketocaine]

Has anyone heard anything about them in regards to doing a residency? Pros/cons?

Honestly, if it's what you want to do, there are very few cons. Pros include: variety of rotation experiences including pharmacist run outpatient clinics, pharmacist pay and benefits and an almost guaranteed job coming out.

I wish I could do an IHS residency, but they won't let me. Oh well, I want to do peds anyway, and that's one thing that IHS is weaker in.

 

[spacecowgirl]

I would say the one and only con (I looked into this pretty thoroughly back in '06) is being in a very remote area. If I had had a family vs being single I would have considered it more strongly but I was worried about being isolated and lonely in some of those locations.

 

[caramel123]

Honestly, if it's what you want to do, there are very few cons. Pros include: variety of rotation experiences including pharmacist run outpatient clinics, pharmacist pay and benefits and an almost guaranteed job coming out.

I wish I could do an IHS residency, but they won't let me. Oh well, I want to do peds anyway, and that's one thing that IHS is weaker in.

why won't they let you? they have open spots in AZ or CO.. i wouldnt mind moving there!

 

[Caverject]

I would say the one and only con (I looked into this pretty thoroughly back in '06) is being in a very remote area. If I had had a family vs being single I would have considered it more strongly but I was worried about being isolated and lonely in some of those locations.

You know the IHS has residencies in some not so remote areas....like Cherokee NC and Albqurque NM....just saying

 

[cycloketocaine]

why won't they let you? they have open spots in AZ or CO.. i wouldnt mind moving there!

I have Crohn's disease, which disqualifies me from serving in the comissioned corps. I could work as a civilian, but the benefits are greatly reduced if you go that route. Believe me, I live in Oklahoma where there are plenty of IHS spots, and it is a great option for those who can/want to do it.

 

[spacecowgirl]

You know the IHS has residencies in some not so remote areas....like Cherokee NC and Albqurque NM....just saying

Ahh, this is true. Well Cherokee isn't exactly bustling, but the area is gorgeous. I guess I was thinking most of the posts with openings are really remote (google Rosebud, SD) but I suppose residencies aren't necessarily in those places.

 

[caramel123]

I have Crohn's disease, which disqualifies me from serving in the comissioned corps. I could work as a civilian, but the benefits are greatly reduced if you go that route. Believe me, I live in Oklahoma where there are plenty of IHS spots, and it is a great option for those who can/want to do it.

aww im sorry. i'm sure you will land a great residency that suites you 🙂 I'm confused about the whole civilian vs. commissioned corps thing. I asked them via email but they didn't really answer my question. Are you part of the military or something? Online it says something about being active duty? As you can tell I have zero clue about what it all entails. I'm only interested in it because I like the patient population and they have good rotations which I like. So any information you share with me would be awesome 🙂

 

[rebith75]

**cough** search button

 

[aboveliquidice]

Has anyone heard anything about them in regards to doing a residency? Pros/cons?

Definitely do a site visit before making any commitment... Also, contacting the site you are looking to do a residency at is VERY critical. One almost required question: "Is anyone with Indian preference applying?" If the answer is yes, don't waste your time / money /effort. Simply choose a different site.

Pros - Great benefits, Outdoors lifestyle (site dependent), progressive practice system, ability to change jobs to FDA, BOP, NIH, etc later on in career.

Cons - Remote location initially(could be a pro depending on your lifestyle), No PGY2s (no specialization), Indian preference, high risk population (stds, drug abuse, poverty, Tb, etc).

I couldn't get over the tribal corruption (seriously) and the situation that Indian preference created. Aside from these issues, which admittedly are site dependent, my experience was great and I likely would have applied for a PGY1.

 

[PharmChica]

aww im sorry. i'm sure you will land a great residency that suites you 🙂 I'm confused about the whole civilian vs. commissioned corps thing. I asked them via email but they didn't really answer my question. Are you part of the military or something? Online it says something about being active duty? As you can tell I have zero clue about what it all entails. I'm only interested in it because I like the patient population and they have good rotations which I like. So any information you share with me would be awesome 🙂

The commissioned corps route would make you a member of one of the branches of the military- so you would get all of the great officer's benefits! All newly commissioned officers will be active duty, which means they may be called to service during disasters such as hurricanes. From what I understand, this does not happen very often, and is dependent on your particular site whether or not they have they staff to send one of their pharmacists.
Check out http://www.pharmacy.ihs.gov/index.cfm?module=benpay for more info.

 

[BelleMD2B]

The commissioned corps route would make you a member of one of the branches of the military- so you would get all of the great officer's benefits! All newly commissioned officers will be active duty, which means they may be called to service during disasters such as hurricanes. From what I understand, this does not happen very often, and is dependent on your particular site whether or not they have they staff to send one of their pharmacists.
Check out http://www.pharmacy.ihs.gov/index.cfm?module=benpay for more info.

Commissioned Corps does not = military. Please do not confuse active duty in the commissioned corp with military active duty. Just wanted to clarify for anyone else that might be reading.

 

[bananaface]

I have Crohn's disease, which disqualifies me from serving in the comissioned corps. I could work as a civilian, but the benefits are greatly reduced if you go that route. Believe me, I live in Oklahoma where there are plenty of IHS spots, and it is a great option for those who can/want to do it.

University of Washington has an IHS site (Tulalip reservation) in their community residency program lineup. I would not think there would be any reason they would discriminate against you for that position. Health status is not part of that application process.

 

[cycloketocaine]

University of Washington has an IHS site (Tulalip reservation) in their community residency program lineup. I would not think there would be any reason they would discriminate against you for that position. Health status is not part of that application process.

The discrimination occurs because if I were to join IHS, I would rather be a commissioned officer. This requires you to meet certain health requirements. I could become a tribal employee in Oklahoma, but these positions aren't exactly what I am looking for.

 

[bananaface]

The discrimination occurs because if I were to join IHS, I would rather be a commissioned officer. This requires you to meet certain health requirements. I could become a tribal employee in Oklahoma, but these positions aren't exactly what I am looking for.

The point is, you could still do a residency at that IHS site. What you can or can't do after that residency is an entirely different topic. Not everyone can expect to stay at their residency site as an employee after they finish.