Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; P.O. Box 278, Pablo, Montana 59855, Tribes' Department of Tribal Health and Human Services Department

R -- PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES DUE 061397 POC Joseph E. Dupuis, Executive Secretary, (406) 675-2700. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: for Consultant Services to review Tribal Health Care, Service and Delivery. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are seeking proposals from professional individuals and/or firms (specializing in the area of hospital administration and personnel interaction) to review, analyze and identify obstacles and organizational impediments prohibiting the effective and eff~cient delivery of health care and ancillary services by the Tribes' Department of Tribal Health and Human Services (Department). The successful bidder (consultant) will, after assessment, develop and present to the Tribal Council a written report. This report shall contain the findings made and include preliminary recommendations as to possible methods, means, policies, organizational modifications and other processes to improve the delivery of health care services to beneficiaries of the Tribal health program and to improve the overall management of the Department. SCOPE OF WORK: Three major issues need to be reviewed by the consultant. Based upon the professional experience of the consultant, other subject areas not identified below may need review as well. The major issues for assessment include: (1) Communication within and without the Department: The individual or firm selected will analyze the Department's current process of internal and external communications, including the treatment of, or interaction with, health care recipients. This will require an examination and evaluation of the existing roles and responsibilities of the staff, including an assessment of the formal and informal lines of communication between staff to ascertain the Department's overall service delivery effectiveness. The assessment shall identify problems associated with mis-communication within the organizational structure. Suggestions and recommended changes (e.g., training, etc.) that will correct and improve lines of communication for and between the staff shall be developed for Tribal Council review. The consultant shall also examinecurrent confidentiality policies and procedures along with their implementation, or lack thereof, to determine the effectiveness of patient and personnel action privacy. Recommendations as to correcting confidentiality breaches or deficiencies uncovered by the review shall be developed for Tribal Council review. (2) Organization and Operation: The consultant will examine the current organizational structure and operation of this health care delivery system. An evaluation as to whether the structure is conducive to providing proper health care services for the Tribes (e.g., is the ratio of supervisors to staff efficient or proper; are the roles of administrative and clinical staff blurred?, etc.) will need to be conducted. A recommended change to the current organizational structure to correct deficiencies found, if any, shall be supplied by the consultant to the Tribal Council for consideration. As a part of the organizational structure review, the consultant will also assess current roles and responsibilities of the staff for appropriateness. Based upon this assessment, the consultant shall make recommendations to the Tribal Council that will define the proper roles and responsibilities of the Department's staff allowing for the effective and efficient organization and operation of the health care delivery system. (3) Management and Protocols: The consultant shall analyze the staff's perception of the Department's mission and goals, as well as perceived problems within the Department. The staff's perceptions as to the Department's mission and goals shall be compared to the formal or official mission and goals of the Department, if any. The consultant shall report on all perceptions found and makes suggestions to the Tribal Council on how to correct problems identified and for the development of a new mission and goals, if needed. The recommendations shall also include the best method required to educate or train the staff to incorporate the proper mission and goals of the Department. The consultant's assessmentshall include an analysis of the competing policies, procedures and protocols (Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal, or other) for all aspects or programs of the Department. The report shall contain suggestions as to the process needed for an orderly transition from IHS to Tribal policies, procedures, and protocols (i.e., true Tribal management), including the development of such Tribal policies, procedures, and protocols based upon industry standards. When examining the Department, the consultant shall determine the extent of the interaction between Departmental programs, including any efforts these programs are making to provide coordinated case management and delivery of services between such programs. The consultant shall suggest methods or means to move to an integrated health service delivery operation for the Tribes. The consultant shall examine the feasibility of implementing a health board system for the Department. The purpose, proposed roles, responsibilities and authorities of the health board shall be presented for Tribal Council review containing, among other things, a synopsis of how the board would interact with other Tribal entities within the Tribal Government (including the Tribal Council). Inherent Methods and Time Lines for the Consultants Review: The Tribal Council will require the consultant to conduct personal interviews with all staff or employees of the Department (approximately 150 individuals). This will allow the consultant to obtain fair and honest opinions as to staff perceptions regarding the Department's goals, mission, problems and successes. The consultant will also be required to complete the above Scope of Work, including interviews, review and analysis of the Department and the preparation of a report containing recommendations for improving health care delivery throughout all aspects of the Department, to the Tribal Council within forty-five (45) days after entering into a contract with the Tribes to provide such consulting services. The consultant will be required to make apresentation to the Tribal Council on the findings, conclusions and recommendations contained in the written report within two weeks after the written report is completed. Twelve (12) bound copies of the consultant's written report shall be delivered to the Tribal Council at least one week before the oral presentation is made. Proposal deadlines: Proposals shall be sent to: Joseph E. Dupuis, Executive Secretary of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, P.O. Box 278, Pablo, Montana 59855, postmarked no later than June 13, 1997. For more information contact Joseph E. Dupuis at (406) 675-2700. (0141)

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