Health workers assist Treat Indians

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Treaty Indians experiencing problems in getting medical attention, in Edmonton or Calgary, can rely on the help of Indian urban health car workers, to find and receive health care services they need.

Since 1981, urban health care workers, UHWs, who are trained paraprofessionals have been assisting Treaty Indians living in these cities, to have their medical needs, looked after.

The UHW service is a program of the Alberta Indian Health Care Commission, AHICC, which was established in 1980 to make sure that Indian people receive the health care services they are entitled to, under Treaty agreements.

Rose Martial, a community health representative, CHR, has been urban health worker, in the busy Edmonton office, since 1984.

Nancy Three Suns, a registered nurse's aide, is the urban health worker for the city of Calgary.

Serving Indian reserves and isolated Native communities, are a host of other CHRs, who basically provide the same service, in those areas.

Medical Services Branch of the National Health and Welfare ministry, handle the payment of health services for Treaty Indians, eligible to receive specific services.

It's the system, red tape and the fact that a lot of urban Indians do not know, what they are eligible to receive, which prompted the need to station urban health care workers in Alberta's two largest cities.

Health services that the MSB will not cover include; extra billing, services provided outside of Canada, infant formula, Chiropractic services, third billings and car accidents. But each case may have different factors to consider, if a Treaty Indian really does need a specific service not normally covered by MSB, and has a doctor confirming such a specific need, they could appeal to MSB and receive the service.

That is the importance of urban health workers and CHRs, which as well as showing where people can get a specific service, also advocate or speak on behalf of their clients needing medical attention or services.

Field work for the urban health workers consists of, hospital visits, home visits, doing workshop upon community or group requests and attending CHR and other health related conferences to obtain the latest news on health needs and services available.

"Sometimes I make medical appointments for people, often I refer my clients to clinics and to doctors that do not extra bill," said Martial.

Martial finds her work interesting and very challenging. She feels very accepted by Treaty Indian clients that she did talk with and also has a good working relationship with the MSB office.

"I told them that, I'm here to make sure that our people get the services they are entitled to," said Martial. Information that clients shared with Martial is kept in the strictest confidentiality. "It's between me and my clients."

Martial has met with a variety of health service requests, but find the major problem is that most Indians do not know what is available to them.

"These people don't know what is available. Most people think they have to pay for everything and they don't," said Martial. For an example she said the "sick or old people, with a bad heart are entitled to a phone."

Health care benefits are, according to Martial, anything within reason, that is not considered a luxury.

"Providing that you have a doctor's note or prescription, that says you need a certain service, the MSB should cover the cost," said Martial.

The MSB will cover or help pay the cost of a medical service for "insured benefits" and "non-insured benefits" according to the MSB medical coverage guidelines.

Insured benefits are those items normally covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, AHCIP, for example; appointments with doctors, specialists, hospital stays and so on.

Non-insured benefits include items not covered by the AHCIP, such as eye glasses, prescription drugs, medical transportation, emergency ambulance or air ambulance service, dental treatment, hospital admission, referral services, extnded health benefits (for seniors, 65 year or older), and prosthesis and medical supplies such as; artificial eyes, arms, legs, limbs; leg or arm braces, hearing aides, special orthopedic shoes, wheelchairs, walkers, canes to name a few.

Martial believes that health care is more than just getting medical attention. "Health has such a wide scope, includes proper housing and a proper food diet, all these consist of taking care of one's health," said Martial.

The Urban Health Workers office is situated at 9924 and 106 St. Edmonton and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number is (403) 429-3978.

The Calgary Urban Health Worker office is at Suite 602, 604 ? 1st Street, South West, Calgary. The phone number is (403) 262-3656.