IHS Meets with Tribal Leaders to Announce the Closure of Sioux San Emergency Room

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA – Tribal leaders were called to a meeting to “discuss” Sioux San IHS hospital in Rapid City. There was no other information given to the Tribal leaders regarding the meeting. Upon arrival to the facility the acting area Director informed the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold C. Frazier that the meeting would be moving into an “executive” status. This would remove everyone from the room but the IHS staff and Tribal Leaders.

The meeting was called without an agenda or any material for the Tribal leaders to consider. The IHS staff then informed the individuals attending the meeting that the emergency room would be “temporarily” shut down. The IHS then proceeded to describe the transition from a hospital to an “urgent care” clinic. This transition would eliminate the possibility of the Emergency room department from opening.

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