Scope and Perspectives of the Alaska Area Native Health Service: An Information Booklet.

摘要

General information is provided to persons both within and outside the Alaska Area Native Health Service. This information covers background material concerning the physical and social setting, a description of the delivery system, a discussion of the system, and the trend of the future. The background of the Alaska area is described geographically, and historical information of the Alaskan natives is presented, together with social and economic development and the development of health services. The health delivery system is composed of a number of separate, independent subsystems, and coordinated through contractual arrangements or agreements and goodwill motivated by common objectives. The major component is the Alaska Area Native Health Service, which is responsible for providing comprehensive health services to 55,000 Alaska natives. The Alaska Area Native Health Service is presented as an example of a comprehensive system that is functioning reasonably effectively towards accomplishing its mission of elevating the health status of the Alaska Native people. The philosophical and strategical approaches of the Native Health Service are noted, as are the impediments to progress, particularly in remote areas of the State. It is stated that Alaska will be profoundly affected by national health policies that develop, particularly since the major source of the health dollar in Alaska comes from the Federal Government.