Avera American Indian Health Initiative

The Avera American Indian Health Initiative seeks to foster greater understanding and awareness among those we serve.

Keeping with Avera’s mission and ministry, the Avera American Indian Health Initiative’s purpose is to develop a circle of honor with American Indian communities and Avera for mutual goodwill — sharing knowledge, aligning best practices, and providing resources to improve health.

Want to learn more about the initiative? Email AveraRuralHealth@avera.org. For questions on health services, call our 24/7 phone line.

877-282-8372

Strategic Goals

With efforts that extend beyond health care, Avera’s collaboration may involve a wide range of projects aimed toward improving infrastructure and removing barriers. Strategic goals include:

  • Enhance Avera’s understanding of how to provide care to American Indian communities and patients.
  • Advance relationships between Avera and American Indian communities.
  • Promote mutual sustainability of resources for Avera and American Indian communities.
  • Identify opportunities for Avera to collaborate and promote American Indian health equity.

Cultural Understanding and Education

Avera supports enhanced awareness and knowledge of American Indian culture to promote understanding.

Community Partnerships

Through our community partnerships program, Avera funds programs that benefit communities including reservation communities. For example, Feeding South Dakota delivers food to reservation communities through its mobile food pantry.

Cultural Education

Avera believes in the value of education. Health care professionals are encouraged to pursue classes and events for cultural education with Avera’s Continuing Education via American Indian courses. Continuing Education hours are available.

Collaborations in Health Care for Tribal Communities

Avera American Indian Health Initiative nurtures collaborations — with both public and private entities — to improve access to health care in reservation communities.

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies

Avera was one of four nationwide sites to receive federal Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program (RMOMS) funding to help increase access to obstetrics services and improve outcomes such as pre-term labor, low birthweight, infant mortality and more in South Dakota. Components include care coordination, remote monitoring for conditions like gestational diabetes, and virtual nursing.

The Maternal American Indian Rural Community Health Research (MARCH) Center of Excellence at Avera Research Institute looks into reducing maternal mortality and severe health conditions as well as improving accessibility of care. Avera is also a cohort site for ECHO, Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes, a large national research network that focuses on how early environmental influences affect child outcomes.

Dialysis

Avera wants to be a significant partner in health care to help improve the health and wellness of American Indian communities. One example of that is the New Hope Dialysis in Wagner, SD, which is operated by Avera Dialysis and owned by the Yankton Sioux Tribe.

Research

Research programs study and apply innovative ways to have a positive impact in the lives and health of American Indians:

  • Avera Research Institute uses research to gain insight into child health and development, particularly in high-risk or medically underserved populations.
  • Walking Forward provides cancer research, education, screening, diagnosis and treatment. This includes education to raise awareness about lung cancer risks and access to low-dose CT lung cancer screenings.

Scholarships

To enhance educational opportunities for American Indian students and provide for future workforce development, Avera sponsors two scholarship programs:

  • The Avera Wokini Scholarship program awards $5,000 scholarships to students at South Dakota State University who are majoring in a health care-related field of study. Recipients also benefit from experiential learning, internship opportunities and a mentorship program.
  • The Avera Health American Indian Scholarship program for medical students at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine provides an annual scholarship of $24,000 for American Indian students who are enrolled members of federally recognized tribes located in South Dakota or the upper Midwest.

Ask the financial aid office at your university for more information.

Wide Network of Health Care Providers

If you or a fellow tribal member needs expert health care, trust Avera’s wide network of experienced providers at Avera locations across the Upper Midwest. Avera receives referrals for all tribes within its geographic footprint.

Count on Avera to provide the care you need when it’s not available at your IHS location. Take advantage of a variety of specialized health services.

Specialized Health Services

Cancer Care

Access nationally accredited Avera Cancer Institute locations in Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Pierre, Mitchell, Yankton, SD, Marshall, MN and outreach centers across the Midwest.


Children's Health

Help your child be well at every stage of development from infancy to young adulthood with children’s health care.

Diabetes & Endocrinology

If you have diabetes or hormone imbalances, turn to Avera endocrinologists and diabetes specialists to help you manage your condition and feel your best.

Heart & Vascular Care

Keep your heart and blood vessels healthy and prevent cardiovascular disease. The region’s top experts deliver Avera’s cardiology services for the best patient outcomes.

Primary Care

Dedicated doctors in convenient locations deliver ongoing health screenings, prevention information and care for all health-related situations.

Pregnancy & Birth

When you’re ready to bring a new life into the world, choose Avera for personalized pregnancy, birthing and post-delivery services.

Transplant Services

Find multidisciplinary transplant expertise and care for kidney, pancreas, bone marrow and other organs at Avera Transplant Institute.

Kidney Care & Dialysis

Trust Avera’s top expertise on kidney care with comprehensive renal services for diagnosis of kidney disorders and treatment, including dialysis.

Questions?

Have questions about the Avera American Indian Health Initiative? Email AveraRuralHealth@avera.org. For health insurance information, visit: