IHS Scholarship Program Recipient Orientation Post-Graduate Clinical Training and

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE

http://www.ihs.gov/scholarship

IHS Scholarship ProgramRecipient Orientation

Post-Graduate Clinical Trainingand

Fulfilling Your Service Commitment


IHS Scholarship Program

AgendaGraduation RequirementsPost-Graduate Clinical TrainingFulfilling Your Service CommitmentBreach of Contract and DefaultAdditional Information




Graduation Requirements



Forms and DocumentationNotice of Impending Graduation (IHS-856-13) form — Due to your IHS Scholarship Program analyst at the beginning of your final academic term. Other Documentation — You must submit the following documentation after graduation:

• A copy of your diploma.• An official transcript documenting the degree awarded.• A copy of your license or board certification, if applicable.

www.ihs.gov/scholarship



Forms and DocumentationPlacement Update (IHS-856-15)

• Submit 30, 60 and 90 days after graduation or completion of post-graduate clinical training.

• Attach documentation of attempts to secure employment (for example, letter of application, interview dates, denial letters, etc.).




Post-Graduate Clinical Training



Purpose To allow Health Professions scholarship recipients in identified

health professions the opportunity to complete required or optional post-graduate clinical training programs to fulfill the requirements for board certification or licensure. All training positions must begin within 90 days of graduation.




Required Forms Prior to Training Request for Approval of Deferment (IHS-856-11)

• Submit to your IHS Scholarship Program Analyst at the beginning of your final year of academic training.

• List post-graduate clinical training program(s) to which you will be applying.

• Receive approval for the program(s) from your IHS Scholarship Program Analyst.




Required Forms Prior to Training Notification of Deferment Program (IHS-856-14)

• Submit by the end of the last month of your final year of academic training.

• Notify your analyst of the post-graduate clinical training program in which you have been accepted and intend to begin your training.

• The Request for Approval of Deferment form, submitted at the beginning of the academic year, must list that clinical training program.




Health Professions with Required Training Medicine Clinical Psychology Social Work Dietetics




Medicine — Eligible Residencies Three-Year Deferment:

• Emergency Medicine• Family Practice• General Internal Medicine• General Pediatrics




Medicine — Eligible Residencies Four-Year Deferment:

• Family Practice/Psychiatry• General Psychiatry• Internal Medicine/Family Practice• Internal Medicine/Pediatrics• Internal Medicine/Psychiatry• Obstetrics/Gynecology




Medicine — Eligible Residencies Five-Year Deferment:

• Anesthesiology• General Surgery




Clinical Psychology The maximum deferment period is two years. State licensing boards require that graduate psychologists

practice under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist for a specified number of hours (usually 2,000) before they are eligible to take the state exam.

You must complete a PhD or PsyD program and become an independent, licensed clinical psychologist before any service will count toward your service commitment.




Social Work The maximum deferment period is three years. State licensing boards require graduate social workers to

practice under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker/psychologist for a specified number of hours (usually 2,000 – 3,000) before they are eligible to take the state exam.

You must complete a master’s degree program and become an independent, licensed clinical social worker before any service will count toward your service commitment.




Dietetics The maximum deferment period is one year. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) requires dietitians

to complete a 900-hour ADA-approved internship under the supervision of an RD before they are able to take the ADA registration exam.

You must complete a bachelor’s degree program and become a registered dietitian before any service will count toward your service commitment.




Health Professions with Optional Training Dentistry NursingOptometryPharmacy




Dentistry The maximum deferment period is one year. You must complete a one-year Advanced Education

Program in General Dentistry (AEGD) or General Practice Residency (GPR).

Only programs that are fully operational with the ADA CODA accreditation status are permitted.




Nursing The maximum deferment period is one year. The training program must emphasize clinical out-patient

(OPD), in-patient (IPD) and/or emergency (ERD) nursing skills (example: Montana American Indian Nurse Internship program [MAINI]).




Optometry The maximum deferment period is one year. You must enroll in Ocular Disease/Pathology and Primary Care

Optometry residency programs only. Consult the IHS Discipline Chief for Optometry prior to

applying to a residency program.



Deferment of Your Service Obligation

Pharmacy The maximum deferment period is one year. You must complete a one-year American Society of

Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) or American Pharmacists Association (APhA) accredited Post-Graduate Year One (PGY 1) Pharmacy Residency Program (Hospital, Community or Managed Care only).




Required Forms and Documentation During TrainingAnnual Status Report (IHS-856-16)

• Submit annually until the approved deferment period is complete.

Letter of Good Standing• Submit annually until the approved deferment period

is complete.• Signed by the Program Director or Coordinator.







Program Policies All recipients scheduled to graduate or complete post-graduate

clinical training must:• Provide one year of service for each year of scholarship

support received, with a two-year minimum service period.• Apply for available job vacancies in their chosen

health profession.• Find a position at a facility within 90 days of graduation

or completion of training.




Program Policies Engage in full-time clinical practice.

• 40 hours/week — with a minimum of 32 hours providing direct inpatient or outpatient care.

Spend no more than five weeks, or 35 days, per service year away from the practice.




Eligible Service Sites Private practice:

• Option for physicians, dentists and clinical psychologists only.• Must be in a designated Health Profession Shortage Area

(HPSA) in which at least 75 percent of the patient base from that geographic area are documented members or descendants of federally or state-recognized Tribes.

• Only available when there are no identified vacancies in an Indian, Tribal or Urban Indian (I/T/U) health program.

• Final approval of this option is at the discretion of the IHS Director.




Job Search Step One — Familiarize Yourself with IHS and an Indian

Health Career Step Two — Contact an IHS Recruiter or Indian Health Facility Step Three — Research Career Paths Step Four — Determine Eligibility of Facility and Position Step Five — Apply for Openings Step Six — Submit Verification of Employment




Job Search Step One — Familiarize Yourself with IHS and an Indian

Health Career• IHS website• Career Opportunities• 12 IHS Areas




Job Search Step Two — Contact an IHS Recruiter or Indian Health Facility:

• http://www.ihs.gov/careeropps• http://www.ihs.gov/findhealthcare




Job Search Step Three — Research Career Paths

• Federal civil service• Direct Tribal hire• USPHS Commissioned Corps




Job Search Step Four — Determine Eligibility of Facility and Position

• Indian Health Service program• Tribal health program • Urban Indian health program • Private practice




Job SearchStep Five — Apply for Openings

• Federal Employment — You must submit your application for employment with the federal government via USAJOBS.

• Tribal/Urban Indian — You must contact the local Human Resources department directly.

• Provide copies of all vacancy announcements and position descriptions for which you have applied to your IHS Scholarship Program analyst for service approval before accepting any job offer.




Job Search Step Six — Submit Verification of Employment

• Federal civil service — Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) form. The program will also accept a hire letter from the facility indicating your start date, position title and position description.

• Tribal/Urban Indian program — A hire letter from the facility indicating your start date, position title and position description.

• USPHS Commissioned Corps — Call-To-Active-Duty (CAD) notice.

• Private practice — A contract, work agreement or hire letter from the facility indicating your start date, position title, position description and terms of employment and benefits.




Job Search You will be subject to involuntary placement if you do not

secure employment after 90 days of graduation or completion of post-graduate clinical training.




Required Forms and Documentation During Your Service CommitmentThe following documentation is due annually until your service commitment is completed:

• Annual Status Report (IHS-856-16)• Leave Report Summary

‒ Your local Human Resources department will provide this report.

Note: Private practice clinicians must also provide quarterly reports documenting the practice’s user population of American Indians and Alaska Natives versus non-Indians and Alaska Natives.




Other NotificationsYou are also required to notify the IHS Scholarship Program if there are any interruptions in your service commitment due to:

• Maternity leave.• Extended sick leave.• Disability or family-friendly leave.• Outside training exceeding 10 days per a 12-month period.• Breaks in service related to a change of work site.• Any other extended time away from work.




Transfer RequestsService commitment is site and position specific.Site or position transfer must be approved by the program.Position description and vacancy announcement for new facility or position is required.




Transfer RequestsThree letters are also required:

• A letter from you stating why you are requesting a transfer.• A letter from your facility administration (HR, CEO, etc.) stating

the impact of your transfer on the facility’s day-to-day operations.• A letter from the prospective site documenting the position

vacancy, your hire date, a position description and the impact of your transfer on the facility’s day-to-day operations.




Breach of Contract and Default



You will be in breach of your IHS Scholarship Contract and placed in default if you:• Pursue an unapproved post-graduate clinical training program.• Fail to serve within the health profession for which you received

financial aid.




LiabilityRecipients who complete their degree and pursue an unapproved post-graduate clinical training program or fail to serve in their chosen health profession will be liable to:

• Repay three times the amount of scholarship funding plus interest.

• Repay the scholarship funds plus interest within one year of the default date.




Additional Information


Additional Information

For assistance contact: • IHS Scholarship Program Analyst — (301) 443-6197• Area Scholarship Coordinator — http://www.ihs.gov/scholarship• IHS Discipline Chiefs — http://www.ihs.gov/scholarship• IHS Recruitment Office — (301) 443-2443

For additional information:• Visit http://www.ihs.gov/scholarship or consult the Recipient

Handbook.


Documents

IHS Scholarship Program Recipient Orientation Post-Graduate Clinical Training and