FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 301-443-3593, newsroom@ihs.gov
Additional $35 Million to Aid Construction of Gila River Southeast Facility
New Outpatient Health Center Will Serve an Estimated 15,220 Patients
An additional $35 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will enable the Indian Health Service, in conjunction with the Gila River Indian Community, to continue construction of the Gila River Southeast Ambulatory Care Center in Chandler, Arizona. The proposed 140,000 square foot outpatient health center will serve a projected user population of 15,220 patients.
"Construction of the Gila River Southeast facility will allow us to significantly strengthen health care services for American Indian and Alaska Native patients living in central Arizona. This also helps improve care for those who travel from around the southwestern U.S. to receive specialty care services at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center," said IHS Principal Deputy Director Robert G. McSwain.
"Gila River Health Care is poised for growth and the pivotal location of the new health center will enhance patient access to culturally competent healthcare services," said Dr. Lorrie Henderson, CEO Gila River Health Care.
The Gila River Southeast facility is listed as a high priority project on the congressionally supported IHS Health Care Facilities Construction Priority List. The $35 million will fund 48 percent of the total project costs. The remaining costs are expected to be funded in the IHS fiscal year 2016 budget.
The new facility will provide outpatient services, a community health department, and a full array of ancillary and support services. The Gila River Southeast facility will be an additional satellite clinic of the Phoenix Indian Medical Center, joining Komatke Health Center, which opened near the Santa Cruz Village on the western end of the Gila River Indian Community reservation in 2009. Planning is taking place for construction of another satellite clinic near the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, closer to Scottsdale, in the northeast valley of Phoenix.
The IHS, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.
