A deputy director of the Indian Health Service was in South Dakota recently, hearing first hand about the issues Native Americans face with their health care.
Congresswoman Kristi Noem says they have been trying to get the ear of the administrators of the IHS
Mary Smith met with tribal leaders and IHS employees during her stop.
Noem says some needed changes have begun at the hospitals in Rosebud and Pine Ridge
Noem says they also have a hard time tracking the dollars that are appropriated for IHS every year
Staffing and safety issues forced the closure of the emergency room at the Rosebud hospital last fall.