IHS PATH EHR Moving to Replace a 40-Year-Old System and Modernize Native Health Care

An electronic health record, or EHR, is a digital system that stores patient medical histories, prescriptions, lab results, and treatment plans — and the Indian Health Service may be on the verge of replacing the one it has used for four decades.

A Proposed $686 Million Investment in Health IT Modernization Could Serve All 574 Federally Recognized Tribes

On February 11–12, 2025, tribal leaders on the NIHB National Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup recommended $686.43 million for Health IT — a $488.77 million increase — to fund the transition from the aging Resource and Patient Management System to PATH EHR, a new enterprise electronic health record. PATH stands for “Patients at the Heart,” and if fully funded, it helps IHS’s ability to deliver culturally competent, whole-person care to Our Relatives across all twelve IHS Areas. The system could ultimately serve approximately 20,000 network users at federal, tribal, and urban Indian health facilities nationwide.

General Dynamics Have Been Tasked to Lead the PATH EHR Buildout for Indian Country

In November 2023, IHS selected General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (GDIT) to build, configure, and maintain PATH EHR using Oracle Health technology under a 10-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract. On September 12, 2024, IHS announced the Lawton Service Unit in Oklahoma — including Lawton Hospital, Anadarko Indian Health Center, and Carnegie Indian Health Center — as the first planned pilot site. The Office of Information Technology has stated that PATH EHR will be designed to centralize support, streamline access to patient data across facilities, and strengthen interoperability with secondary and tertiary providers outside the Indian health care system.

The VA’s Oracle Health Rollout Offers Lessons for Indian Country

IHS is not the first federal agency to adopt Oracle Health technology — and the Department of Veterans Affairs’ experience has offered important lessons. The VA signed an initial $10 billion contract to modernize its legacy health record system, but the project’s estimated lifecycle cost has since grown to roughly $37 billion. After patient safety concerns and usability challenges at early deployment sites, the VA paused most rollouts in April 2023 and has implemented the new EHR at only six of its 170 medical centers as of late 2025.

According to Federal News Network, the VA plans to resume deployments at four Michigan-based facilities in mid-2026, with a goal of reaching all 170 medical centers by 2031. For IHS and the Native populations it serves, these lessons could help shape a smoother PATH EHR implementation — but success will depend on sustained funding, meaningful tribal consultation, and workforce readiness across Indian Country.

PATH EHR Could Support Native Practitioners, Elders, and Indigenous Health Care Delivery

If implemented successfully, this modernization could directly benefit Native practitioners, elders, and Indigenous communities who depend on accurate, accessible health information. PATH EHR would be able to enhance culture awareness in clinical workflows, bolster disaster recovery, and reduce medical errors — potentially improving health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native populations served by IHS, tribal health programs, and urban Indian organizations.

Ellsworth Is Ready To Staff the Workforce Behind the Technology

Ellsworth, a 100% Native owned small business and ISBEE-certified medical staffing company, provides culturally competent health care professionals to IHS facilities, tribal health programs, and rural hospitals across Indian Country. As PATH EHR may begin rolling out to Native populations nationwide, Ellsworth will be ready to ensure that every clinic has the trained, dedicated workforce to deliver high-quality care to Our Relatives. Contact Ellsworth today to staff your facility with professionals prepared for the future of Native health.