Health Center
The Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center (RSTHC) is our tribally-owned and operated center, location on the Reno Sparks Indian Colony at 1715 Kuenzli Street. The health center is committed to enhancing the quality of life of our American Indian and Alaska Native patients by providing a culturally competent and patient-centered continuum of care.
The mission of the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center is to raise the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.
Under the provisions of a Title V Self-Governance Compact, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Title V Compact with the Indian Health Service allows the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony to administer individual programs and services the IHS would otherwise provide.
Seven-member, Executive Health Board, appointed by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Council, provides input into the policies and procedures, as well as oversight to the Traditional Medicine and other programs. Two Tribal Council members serve as liaisons and non-voting ex-officio members of the Board. The Reno Sparks Indian Colony Tribal Council serves as the governing body of the Center.
The RSTHC’s dedicated team of highly-trained clinicians offers a wide range of services including, but not limited to: adult medicine, pediatrics, mental health services, basic laboratory services, comprehensive dental care for children and adults, mental health services, alcohol and substance abuse services, pharmacy, eye care, nutrition, diabetes care and injury prevention services.
Our health center serves as the primary tribal health center for eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area. We have a staff of over 110 employees and recorded nearly 70,000 patient encounters in the past year. These encounters ranged from simple check-ups and acute conditions to chronic disease management and community prevention programs to name just a few.
Furthermore, the RSTHC staff is eager to help eligible patients enroll in Medicaid, Medicare, and all healthcare programs.
For a specific inquiry, please phone 775-329-5162, for more information.
Eligibility
Direct Health Care
Services directly provided by Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center (RSTHC) providers and/or divisions within the RSTHC are referred to as Direct Health Care unless otherwise indicated.
Direct health care services provided within RSTHC will be made available, as medically indicated, to American Indians and/or Alaskan Natives who are enrolled members or descendants of a federally recognized tribe.
Purchase & Referred Care (PRC)
The Purchase & Referred Care (PRC) Program is for medical or dental care provided away from our facility. PRC is for services provided by doctors and hospitals that the RSTHC is unable to provide. To learn more, visit the IHS.gov – Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) page.
PRC is utilized in situations where:
- No tribal or Indian Health Service (IHS) direct care facility exists.
- The IHS or tribal direct care facility cannot provide the required emergency and/or specialty care.
- A patient’s alternate resource(s) is not enough to cover the total required care. See below for an explanation of “alternate resources.”
- The service is determined to be within established medical/dental priorities.
PRC is utilized in situations where:
- An entitlement program
- An insurance program
- An established benefit program
- Purchased & Referred Care (PRC) is provided to eligible American Indians/Alaskan Natives who maintain close social and economic ties with the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and residing in the RSTHC PRC service delivery area as follows:
- Member of a Nevada Tribe or a Descendant of a Nevada Tribal member
- Member or descendant of the federally recognized tribe and married to a Nevada tribal member
- Member of a federally recognized tribe and working for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony
- Member of a federally recognized tribe and living on a reservation in Nevada (within RSTHC PRCDA)
- Services will be made available to non-Indian women pregnant with an eligible Indian child (pregnancy through 6 weeks postpartum)
- Services to non-Indians of an eligible Indian household if the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Chief Medical Director determines it is necessary to control an acute infectious disease or if it presents a public health hazard.
- Children under the age of 19 years, who are the natural or adopted child, step-child, foster-child, legal ward, or orphan of an eligible Indian, as amended under Section 813 of the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act, P.L. 94-437.
Patient Benefits
The patient benefits coordination department assists patients applying for alternate resources such as Medicaid, Nevada Check Up, Medicare, disability, and other resource programs including the food stamp program and energy assistance.
Patient benefits coordinators are available to assist patients with alternate resource applications and submit applications to the appropriate agency on behalf of our patients. In addition, home visits can be made to accommodate homebound patients.
In addition, we offer a Tribal Sponsorship program in coordination with the Nevada Health Link for individuals who may be over-income for Medicaid yet too young to qualify for Medicare. Contact our Patient Benefits Program to see if you qualify.
Patient Information
Confidentiality
The Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center (RSTHC) is dedicated to preserving our patients’ trust. RSTHC complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). RSTHC employees and contractors owe a duty to patients and stakeholders to act in a way that will merit the continued trust and confidence of the public. Our continued success is dependent upon your trust.
All patients must sign an Acknowledgement of Receipt of Notice of Privacy Practices (PDF), which is a summary of their privacy rights at an Indian Health Service facility along with HIPAA Privacy Rule information. The RSTHC Notice of Privacy Practices outlines how information about you may be disclosed. We encourage our patients to carefully read this important document.
Please note: If you decide you would like to share your protected health information with another individual or healthcare facility, you will need to sign the RSTHC Authorization to Use and/or Disclose Protected Health Information. This form becomes a part of your medical record.
Please note: Other Authorizations for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information are not accepted.
Forms may be mailed or faxed to:
Attn: RSTHC Health Information Division
Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center
1715 Kuenzli Street
Reno, NV 89502
Fax: 775-334-4359
Patient Rights & Responsibilities
The Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center will make every attempt to involve patients in their own health care and treatment. Patients are given the opportunity to participate in decisions involving their treatment plans, except when such participation is contraindicated for patient safety reasons.
Our staff is available to answer any questions you might have.
Every reasonable attempt will be made to accommodate patients. We will attempt to honor requests for alternative therapies that may not achieve maximum results but can be compromised, as long as they are deemed responsible.
Learn more about the Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities (PDF).
Patient Rights
As a healthcare provider, the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center is committed to delivering quality medical care. The following “Statement of Rights” was developed by Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center and is endorsed by the Tribal Council, administration, health care professionals, and other staff of this facility.
Our goal is to provide healthcare services that are culturally competent, effective, and considerate of the patients we serve. We submit these to you as a statement of our policies:
- A patient has the right to respectful, considerate care given by competent and qualified personnel.
- A patient has the right, upon request, to be given the name of his/her healthcare professional as well as the names of all other professionals directly participating in his/her care.
- A patient has the right to every consideration of his/her privacy concerning his/her own health care program. Case discussions, consultations, examinations, and treatments are considered confidential.
- A patient has the right to have all records pertaining to his/her health care treated as confidential, and in accordance with HIPAA standards, except as otherwise provided by law, or third-party contractual and billing arrangements.
- A patient has the right to know what rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct as a patient.
- A patient has the right to expect emergency procedures to be implemented without unnecessary delay.
- A patient has the right to good quality care and high professional standards that are continually maintained according to National Quality Assurance standards.
- A patient has the right to full information in layman’s terms concerning his/her diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis, including information about alternative treatments and possible complications. When it is not medically advisable to give such information to the patient, the information shall be given on his/her behalf to the patient’s next of kin or other appropriate person, or to a legally authorized individual in summary format.
- Except for emergencies, the health care provider must obtain the necessary informed consent prior to the start of any procedure or treatment, or both.
- A patient has the right to be advised when they are part of a research or donor program, and the patient, or legally responsible party, must give informed consent prior to actual participation in such a program(s).
- A patient has the right to refuse any drugs, treatment, or procedure offered by the facility to the extent permitted by law, and the health care provider shall inform the patient of the consequences of the patient’s refusal of any drugs, treatments, or procedures.
- A patient has the right to assistance in obtaining consultation with another physician at the patient’s request and own expense.
- A patient has the right to health care services without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual preference, national origin, age, or disability.
- The patient has the right to be free from verbal, emotional, and physical abuse and/or inappropriate sexual behavior in a safe healthful, and comfortable environment.
- This facility shall provide the patient, upon request, access to health information contained in his/her records, unless this is specifically restricted by the attending healthcare provider, or is prohibited by law.
- A patient has the right to expect that the facility will provide a mechanism whereby he/she is informed prior to or upon discharge of his/her continuing health care requirements following discharge and the means for meeting them.
- A patient has the right to express grievances or suggestions to personnel verbally or in writing. Suggestion/ complaint forms are located in ALL patient waiting areas throughout the facility and will be directed to the attention of the Executive Director.
Patient Responsibilities
- You are expected to cooperate with all facility personnel, and you are expected to ask questions if directions and/or procedures are not clearly explained or understood.
- You are expected to be considerate of other patients and facility personnel and to maintain control of yourself, your family members, and your children. You are also expected to be respectful of the facility’s property and the property of other persons.
- In order to facilitate your care, you are expected to assist the healthcare providers in their efforts to care for you by following instructions.
- It is your responsibility to keep all appointments. If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, it is your responsibility to notify the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center at least 24 hours in advance.
- Be on time for your appointment. Patients are encouraged to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment. When you arrive on time for your appointment, it helps the staff to ensure that all patients are seen on time. If you do arrive late, you may be rescheduled for another time or day.
- In the event that you should require hospitalization, the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center is not financially responsible or obligated to pay for expenses related to your hospitalization.
- It is expected that you will take any medications that have been prescribed to you and that you will not complicate or endanger the healing process by consuming alcoholic beverages or illicit drugs during or before your visit. In the event that you do take drugs not prescribed by your physician, please be honest, as it is extremely important to your health and safety.
- The Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center expects that you and your family will provide accurate information about your health history including illnesses, hospitalizations, and medications (prescribed or otherwise) in order to effectively determine a treatment plan that best suits your individual healthcare needs.
Support Services
Business Office
The business office maximizes revenue reimbursements from Nevada Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and other third-party resources. It is important to keep your insurance information updated with our Patient Registration Division. Third-party revenue is utilized to provide additional health care services of the RSTHC.
Patient Benefits
The Patient Benefits Coordination Department assists patients applying for alternate resources, such as Medicaid, Nevada Check Up, Medicare, disability, and other resource programs including the food stamp program and energy assistance.
Patient Benefits Coordinators are available to assist patients with alternate resource applications and submit applications to the appropriate agency on behalf of our patients. In addition, home visits can be made to accommodate homebound patients.
Health Information
Health information maintains medical records and related medical documentation of all RSTHC patients. Please visit our office for copies or releases of your medical information.
Phone Number: 775-329-5162
Fax Number: 775-297-0737
Emergency & Disaster Preparedness
The Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center received grant funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is currently preparing to sustain operations of RSTHC/Tribal Community for potential disaster. Preparedness training and equipment are used to sustain operations while reducing the effects and impact after the event occurs.
Facilities
Our Facilities Division is responsible for the continued safety, health, comfort, and suitability of our beautiful clinic. While visiting, please report safety concerns/hazards to our front desk receptionist in the main lobby.
Administration
The administration supports the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center infrastructure providing oversight, leadership, guidance, and support services to all divisions of the health center. This includes information technology and grant writing for contracts and grants that assist in sustaining all programs and activities.
In addition, Administration provides direct communication with the advisory and governing bodies of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony including the following:
Executive Health Board
The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Executive Health Board meets regularly regarding health concerns of the tribal community and serves in an advisory role to the RSTHC.
The Executive Health Board meets monthly, on the third Monday of each month at 5:30 pm at the RSTHC.
- Executive Health Board Members include:
- Suzanne Thomas, Chairperson
- Darlene Gardipe, Vice-Chairperson
- Deena O’Daye, Secretary
- James Thomas- Member
- Dee Dee Ramirez – Member
- Chairman Daryl D. Gardipe and Tribal Treasurer Robin M. Eagle serve as the Tribal Council Liaisons.
Tribal Council
The Reno-Sparks Tribal Council is the governing body of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, providing direct oversight and approval of all services, contracts, grants, policies, procedures, resolutions, and/or tribal laws of the RSTHC health care delivery system.
Technology And Innovation
We actively invest in innovative technologies to assist our providers team access to the latest diagnostic and treatment options.
Recognized for Excellence
We are proud to be recognized by the National Indian Health Board and Nextgen Health, for our commitment to delivering exceptional healthcare.