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Mark Trahant is a Kaiser Media Fellow examining the Indian Health Service and its relevance to the national health care reform debate. He is a member of Idaho’s Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Comment here.

It takes about 30 seconds of walking around the campus of the Alaska Native Medical Center to appreciate that you are in a special place. There are values communicated in every hallway.

• Colorful banners remind visitors that the entire campus is tobacco free;

• There are many gathering places scattered about for family and community with the finest in traditional art showcased;

• And, in waiting areas, there are open computer terminals for people to research their own health information. Signs remind patients that if you’ve been waiting more than 15 minutes, talk to someone.

This is what the Indian Health system should look like across the country. “No,” a friend corrected me, “this is what the U.S. health care system should look like.”

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Tags: Alaska Native Medical Center, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, buffalo post, Cook Inlet Region Inc., Health care reform, Indian Health Service, Indian Self-Determiniation and Education Assistance Act of 1975, Mark Trahant, Nuka, Southcentral Foundation