In the News...
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Urban Health opens new clinic
By REBECCA CRUSE, Capital Journal Staff
Urban Indian Health recently opened its doors at a new clinic on Abbey Road and Fourth Street. The new facility is larger and more accessible than UIH’s former location on Dakota Avenue. (Capital Journal photo by Rebecca Cruse)
The move is permanent this time, for Urban Indian Health of Pierre.
The clinic has functioned from three different locations since its 1977 opening, but a new building on the north edge of town is now accessible for all patients and leaves plenty of room for expansion.
Those were two of the main problems that clinic employees and patients had to deal with at the last location on Dakota Avenue, according to Donna Keeler, executive director of South Dakota Urban Indian Health.
Keeler said that the old clinic was not handicapped accessible and there were some confidentiality issues because the space was limited, leaving the waiting and registration areas in the same room.
That shouldn’t be a problem now. The new facility has adequate space, with four exam rooms, speciality areas for diabetes care and alcohol- and mental health-related care and a large waiting area, separate from the registration window.
The clinic area can be secured, leaving access to the offices and meeting rooms for board meetings or support groups in the evenings.
Urban Indian Health is a nonprofit organization that receives its funding from Capital Area United Way and state and federal Indian Health Services. Its main purpose, according to Keeler, is to help Indian people with health issues.
“As more people leave reservation areas, they lose privileges at tribal health facilities,” Keeler said. “We’re not a free clinic; we’re what you would call a comprehensive clinic, but we are able to provide medical services at a reasonable cost.”
Keeler added that the clinic is open to all races. It is a state managed care Medicaid provider, but its priority is American Indian people.
South Dakota Urban Indian Health also has clinics in Aberdeen and Sioux Falls. Keeler is the executive director of all South Dakota clinics. She serves on the national board of directors as well.
The funding for the new facility came from Title V of the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act and an Avera Circle of Teaching grant, according to Keeler.
The new Urban Indian Health clinic held its grand opening with blessing and honoring ceremonies on Aug. 26, which included food, giveaways, an interior smudging by spiritual leader Arvol Looking Horse, a Christian prayer and blessing and the honoring of four community members who have been vital to the clinic’s operation.
“The ground was blessed inside too, when the floors were still dirt. So, we should really have a positive feeling here,” said Keeler.
Dr. A.J. Tieszen was honored at the ceremony. Tieszen has been the medical director at the Pierre UIH clinic since 1978.
“Without him, we couldn’t have provided any services,” Keeler said.
President of American State Bank Bill Fischer was honored for his service.
“When we were first opening a clinic in Pierre, we needed somebody, financially, to bank on us,” Keeler said, “We went with American State Bank and have been with them since the very beginning, and Bill has been great helping us out when we were waiting for funding to come through.”
Another honoree was Jim Stephens, Vilas Drug owner.
“He has been a player from the very beginning,” said Keeler.
Besides providing temporary housing for Urban Indian Health when Vilas Drug was located on Pierre Street, Stephens has contracted pharmacy services with the clinic since 1978. He also provides staff training to the clinic employees who handle and distribute prescription medications.
Aaron Swan, the president of the board of directors, was also honored. Swan has been active in the affairs of the clinic for many years.
Keeler said, “Continuity in these kinds of programs is everything. You have to have it to stay through tough times. And he has always acted in the best interests of the agency.”
Each honoree received a hand-made Indian star quilt and a blessing from Looking Horse.
The clinic P.A. Jon VanderMaten, who has provided direct patient care since 1982, according to Keeler, was given a beaded stethoscope in thanks of his service. And the members of the board of directors were also given gifts of thanks.
Keeler was thanked for her service with a “Fancy Dancer” quilt.
Urban Indian Health is continuing its grand opening celebration through Veterans Day, with a raffle of a star quilt.
Tickets can be purchased at the clinic for $3 each or $5 for two tickets.
The new clinic is located at 1714 Abbey Road, which is adjacent to Fourth Street, in Pierre.
