From left: Brenda Hood, with HealtHIE Nevada (HIE) and the Nevada HIMSS tribal liaison for the HIMSS Native American and Indigenous community; Wallace Coffey, former chairman of the Comanche Nation; and Krystal Schramm, Michigan HIMSS tribal liaison and vice chair of the HIMSS Native American and Indigenous community, attend the HIMSS25 Native American Symposium at the annual HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition.
Photo: HIMSS
HIMSS launched its Native American & Indigenous Community in 2022.
The Native American & Indigenous Health Symposium, held at the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition each year, is entering its fourth year.
Since the symposium's launch, the network has expanded to include Indigenous communities from Aboriginal Australia, Canada and Alaskan Native tribes.
It's the only place where tribal and Indigenous communities can come together on healthcare and technology, according to Brenda Hood, client experience analyst for HealtHIE Nevada. Hood is also the Nevada HIMSS tribal liaison for the Native American and Indigenous Community and the tribal liaison for the state of Nevada.
"My passion is patient centered," said Hood, one of the speakers at the symposium. "To me, it's important to have advocation for tribes, IHS [Indian Health Service] and rural health to access the data they need."
The Indian Health Service is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2024, the IHS announced at HIMSS24 that it had awarded Oracle the contract to upgrade the electronic health record across 574 federally recognized tribes nationwide. Work began in Oklahoma to replace technology that in some cases was over 40 years old.
HIMSS, the parent company of Healthcare Finance News, helps provide support and give exposure to the need for a connected EHR, according to Hood.
"We're all trying to build this system internally to help the communities," Hood said. "We're still trying to spread the word, we're here for you, how can we help you?"
Hood will speak during the session, “Using Data to Transform Outcomes,” at the Native American & Indigenous Health Symposium being held Monday, March 9, from noon-4:30 p.m., at HIMSS26 in Las Vegas.
On Tuesday, March 10, starting at 2 p.m., a roundtable discussion on traditional medicine will be held. In 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a waiver allowing Arizona, California, New Mexico and Oregon to use Medicaid and CHIP funds for Native American traditional healing services. Speaker Brandi Sweet, CEO of NATIVation Counseling, will discuss behavioral, mental health and traditional healing, and how services can be expanded through telehealth.
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org