The Lower Elwha Health Department continues to provide quality health care to members of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, members of neighboring tribes living in the Klallam service territory, and non-Indian patients who are covered by state-subsidized insurance and unable to obtain health care from local providers.
The Lower Elwha Health Clinic is a primary care clinic specializing in continuing and comprehensive health care for individuals of all ages and their families. Medical services provided include:
Evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic illness and injuries
Cancer Screenings
Health Risk Assessment Exams
Family planning services
Pediatric services
In addition to these provided services, the clinic works closely with other physicians in the region and community to provide medical and surgical specialty referrals for appropriate conditions.
The tribal clinic is located in the Tribal Center building with 1200 SF for medical services and 450 SF for mental health and social services. The Tribe operates several health care programs under a P.L. 93-638, Title I contract with the IHS. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe contracts under the 413 amendments of P.L. 93-638 for its area and headquarters shares. These programs include medical and dental care, community health nurse, community health representative, chemical dependency, mental health and contract health services. Dental services are provided in an IHS owned modular two chair dental clinic with 660 SF purchased in the 1970’s. Health services are provided by a family practice physician (.8 time), a nurse practitioner (.8 time), and a dentist (.6 time). The clinic had a total of 5,300 patient visits in FY 1996. The Tribe’s Contract Health Service Delivery Area (CHSDA) is Clallam County. The Tribe has an enrolled population of 638 and there are 1,149 Indians living on or near the Reservation. The active heath clinic user population is 941. The leading causes of death are heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, cirrhosis of the liver, malignant neoplasm, and motor vehicle and other accidents.