"Good work all around in saving - even if only temporarily - the Indian Health Services Emergency Room in Wagner. It will stay open 24 hours at least through September.

The Health Service had planned to close the ER to save money and convert it to an urgent care clinic that would be closed from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. as well as on Sundays and holidays.

Everyone involved went to work to stop that. The Yankton Sioux Tribe filed suit. Our congressional delegation - Sens. John Thune and Tim Johnson and Rep. Stephanie Herseth - all lobbied against the change and sponsored bills urging the Health Service to reconsider the decision until an accurate, updated study was completed."

Get the Story:
Wagner ER got help it needed (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 2/16)

Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov

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