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Contact: (602) 263-1694, newsroom@ihs.gov
IHS and San Carlos Apache Tribe Open New Arizona Health Center
New facility in Peridot serves more than 12,000
is located in Peridot, Arizona.
The Indian Health Service (IHS) and the San Carlos Apache Tribe announce the grand opening of the newly constructed San Carlos Apache Tribe Health Center in Peridot, Arizona, on July 13, 2015.
"The project was designed utilizing the Improving Patient Care model, which changes the way health care is delivered by incorporating patient-centered, Indian health, medical home concepts," said IHS Acting Director Robert McSwain. "This is a modern, technologically advanced facility and its opening marks a significant milestone in the history of the San Carlos Apache Tribe."
The San Carlos Apache Tribe will manage operations of the new hospital, pursuant to the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638).
"On behalf of the San Carlos Apaches, I thank our Creator God for answering our prayers and making our new hospital a reality. I want to thank all past and current tribal leaders for playing a part in this lengthy process of planning, designing, constructing and securing funds for our new hospital. I want to thank Congress for making funds available for our new hospital," said San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman, Terry Rambler. "I want to thank the IHS for the primary care they have provided our people for the past 52 years. Now, it will be our turn to provide primary care through our healthcare corporation. May our Creator God continue to guide us in our efforts to improve health care services for our people."
The new 179,000 square-foot facility serves approximately 12,985 American Indians residing in the San Carlos Service Unit, which includes portions of the Arizona counties of Cochise, Gila, Graham, and Greenlee. This rural hospital includes eight low-risk nursing care beds and a two-bed, low-risk birthing unit. Additional new services provided will include physical therapy, telemedicine, podiatry, ultrasound, ambulatory procedures, CT, and mammography.
The additional staff funded for the facility includes 296 positions, totaling approximately $31.5 million, to provide an expanded level of health care services specifically designed to meet the health care needs of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The total project cost was $116 million, which includes 43 staff quarters units.
The IHS, an agency in 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.
