Understanding the Consortium - Riverside/San Bernardino Counties Indian Health Inc. (RSBCIHI)

This episode features a conversation with RSBCIHI Chief Operating Officer, Bill Thomsen. Mr. Thomsen shares some of the history of how the consortium of the nine tribes was started. Thinking through the history of treaty obligations that were intended to stop the killing of Native Americans, the U.S. government promised to provide health care for the tribes and thus Indian Health Services (IHS) came into existence. Despite this obligation, IHS is persistently underfunded. Nevertheless, RSBCIHI strives to deliver care that attends to both the physical and cultural needs of the Native population. RSBCIHI has a strong relationship with the tribes in the consortium and collaboratively they work together to meet the health needs of the community.