Navajo Maternal Child Health Coordinator: Diana Hu, MD
Links Of Interest 
PEDIATRICS in Navajo Area Indian Health Service(NAIHS):
Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) delivers health care to almost 200,000 Native Americans - primarily Navajos, but also some Hopis on the Western Reservation. The area of the Navajo Reservation is approximately the size of West Virginia -it has been broken up into 8 "service units" which serve 25,000-35,000 people each. Almost 50% of the Navajo population is less than 18 years of age. 6 service units are hospital based - 2 are health centers, 1 with admitting privileges at the local community hospital. There are currently approximately 45 clinical pediatricians working for NAIHS at all 8 different service units. The following is a brief profile of each service unit, and the services provided by pediatricians there.
CHINLE - Located in the center of the reservation, near Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Hospital based services, including level II nursery services/high risk OB/general surgery. Usually run 8-12 pediatric inpatient beds. 8 pediatricians with 4 working ½ time. Do not do any general ER call, and family medicine will often do primary pediatrics call with peds back-up. Call is taken from home. Must live in government housing - walking distance to the hospital. Chief of Peds: Dr. David Sandweiss ph (928) 674-7001, FAX:(928) 674-7004, e-mail: maxsand@citlink.net
CROWNPOINT - In the most southeastern corner of the reservation, nearest to Albuquerque - second newest hospital in NAIHS. Just recently went from totally family medicine based staff to having 3 pediatricians and 2 internists as well as family medicine. Low risk OB only. 4 inpatient peds beds as part of a large general inpatient ward. Pediatricians do general ER call but no OB call. Must live in government housing - walking distance to the hospital. Proximity to Albuquerque is felt to be advantageous. Crownpoint Navajo rug auctions are legendary for collectors. Chief of Peds: Dr. Tania Hurlbutt ph (505)786-5291, FAX (505)786-5840, e- mail: tania.hurlbutt@crownpoint.ihs.gov
FORT DEFIANCE - Located 7 miles from the capital of the Navajo Nation (Window Rock). Brand new hospital in 2002 with new housing as well! 5 full time pediatric positions plus a peds nurse specialist who does well child care. Peds takes general call in the ER infrequently with backup from other services. High risk OB done, Level I-II nursery capabilities but space is a problem. No general surgery or surgical subspecialties. 8-12 pediatric inpatient beds. Must live in government housing - walking distance to hospital. More trees than other parts of the reservation because of altitude of >6000 feet. Chief of Peds: Dr. Tom Herr ph (928) 729-5741, FAX (928) 729-3222, E-mail: thomas.herr@fdih.ihs.gov
GALLUP - Gallup Indian Medical Center (GIMC) is the largest hospital in NAIHS with over 75 full time medical staff. It is a referral center for the eastern reservation for services like ortho, ENT, some high risk OB, some overflow level II nursery (especially back transports from level III NICUs). There are currently 14 full time pediatric positions plus 2 mid level providers. 21 inpatient beds plus 10 level II nursery beds (although nurse staffing is shared jointly between level II nursery and peds inpatient - so usually the total maximum census is around 21 patients). GIMC/Gallup is off the reservation so individuals must rent or buy their own house - housing readily available and affordable. Peds does no ER call or after hours in-house call GIMC has an "urgent care" center as well as an ER staff who are the first line for seeing pediatric patients after hours. 2 hours from Albuquerque by I-40. Chief of Peds: Dr. Kevin Sweeney ph (505) 722-1000, FAX (505) 722-1554, E-mail: kevin.sweeney@gimc.ihs.gov
KAYENTA: Kayenta is one of the two health center (AKA "clinic") based service units in NAIHS. Located in the central northern reservation right next to Monument Valley. 3 pediatricians out of 10 medical staff -all rotate through general call to cover the ER after hours/weekends with another physician. No inpatient services - usually refer to Tuba City or Chinle. Must live in government housing. Very close knit community, beautiful location in the red rocks/Navajo sandstone. (Best place to live if you're into rafting, kayaking or rock climbing.) Pediatrician - Dr. Miran Song ph (928)697-4000, FAX (928) 697-4145, e mail- mskayenta@yahoo.com
INSCRIPTION HOUSE HEALTH CENTER - part of the Kayenta service unit. 4 providers. Previously all family medicine, now have one pediatrician as well. Ambulatory care only, 8-5p on weekdays only - no ER services or weekend clinic - take abpit 10 weekends of call per year at Kayenta. Very isolated but a beautiful facility on the Shonto plateau - great mountain biking and canyon hiking. Clinical Director: through Kayenta service unit - see above pediatrician - Dr. Bill Flood ph (928)672-3000, FAX (928) 672-2478, e mail: william.flood@ihhc.ihs.gov
SHIPROCK - Northern Navajo Medical Center is the second newest facility on Navajo. Opened in January 1995, it is located in the northeastern corner of the reservation near Farmington, New Mexico - about 40 miles from "Four Corners" (junction of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona). Lots of new equipment, spacious clinic and increased positions! 5 ½ pediatricians plus a PNP, work very closely with large family medicine department. Excellent adolescent medicine program, active community programs. High risk OB done, level II nursery. ENT, general surgery and orthopedics on site. 10-12 inpatient peds beds. Pediatric call from home- minimal ER call. Must live in government housing but many people also have land/houses nearby off the reservation (like in Farmington/Durango/Cortez/Telluride). (Best place to live if downhill skiing is what you live for.) Chief of Peds: Dr. Don Vasser ph (505)368-6001, FAX (505) 368-6260, e-mail: donald.vasser@shiprock.ihs.gov
TUBA CITY - Tuba City Indian Medical Center (TCIMC) is the referral center for much of the Western Reservation. Unique patient mix in that about 25% of the patients are from the adjacent Hopi reservation. 75 miles from the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and Flagstaff, Arizona. 5 pediatricians plus a PNP and a full time pediatric resident from Johns Hopkins peds residency. High risk OB done, level II nursery, general surgery, ENT, ortho. 15 inpatient peds beds. Peds call from home, no general ER call, but there is a weekday evening ER shift where pediatrician primarily sees children but may also seeadults (with another physician in the ER). Must live in government housing - one cluster is walking distance, one is about 2 miles from the hospital. (some commute from Flagstaff, but hard with our call schedule) Recently taken over by a community based tribal corporation so would not get a federal position but comparable salary and benefits and eligible for loan repayment. Chief of Peds: Dr. Steve Holve ph (928)283-2501, FAX (928) 283-2591, E-mail: steve.holve@tcimc.ihs.gov.
WINSLOW - Ambulatory care "health center". currently have no pediatrician, family medicine based service. Have had pediatricians in the past but must take general ER call. Inpatient admitting privileges at the local community hospital but refer complicated cases to Tuba City. Local hospital does low risk peds and OB only currently. Would have to take general call but no OB call probably. Winslow is off the reservation (immortalized in the famous Eagles song - "standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona...") so must rent or buy own house -very affordable. About 1 hour from Flagstaff. Also tribal corporation run now so non federal positions and benefits but comparable. clinical director: Frank Armao ph#: (928)289-4646, FAX (928)289-5264, e-mail: frank.armao@winslow.ihs.gov
All service units have medical students and variable numbers of residents in peds and family medicine.
There are two other hospitals on the Hopi or Navajo reservations that are not part of NAIHS but work with us closely- consider them also when you come out: GANADO (Sage Memorial Hospital) - A private hospital run by the Presbyterian church initially- now run by a private non-profit corporation with church affiliation. Located in the center of the reservation. Non- IHS - salaries and benefits are competitive. Small hospital with up to 9 peds beds for low-risk only. OB done but low risk only. Included in the programs of the Fort Defiance service unit. No full time peds now but have had 2 pediatric positions in the past. Must take some general medicine call. MCH coordinator: Ellen Bando. PA (928) 755-3411
HOPI HEALTH CENTER- Part of the Phoenix area IHS program- located on the eastern edge of the Hopi reservation- share patients with Tuba City and Chinle. Low risk OB and Peds inpatient only. Must take some general medicine call. Brand new facility opened up this spring. Do not have inpatient unit- only low risk OB and 4 holding beds for observation. Transfer all inpatients usually to Tuba City. Had 1 full time peds position but this year have no pediatrician- may be recruiting for a pediatrician. Clinical director: Dr. Darren Vicenti (928)737-6000
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