Chinle Service Unit Profile
General Information
Over one-third of the approximately 250,000 Navajos live below the federal poverty level.
One-third live in homes without plumbing, and two thirds do not have telephone access.
These factors contribute to people relying on low-nutritional-value diets and sedentary lifestyles.
Traditional Navajo teachings value health, and the concept of doing all things in moderation or balance
is prescribed. In other words, too much of anything is viewed as a risk for becoming unhealthy.
Western medicine is valued for addressing the symptoms of illness. Since Navajo beliefs about the
causes of illness differ from Western medicine, Navajo ceremonies and rituals are accessed to restore
total balance. In addition, traditional and Western treatment recommendations may sometimes conflict.
For example, some traditional medicine people discouraged residents from using insulin injections
during ceremonies and the four day observance period following the ceremonies due to a taboo on
causing blood to flow during this time. Navajo Area Indian Health Services (NAIHS) workers and
medicine people met and collaborated on ways to make sure that residents could safely manage their
diabetes while participating in traditional ceremonies. The Chinle Service Unit has four staff members
dedicated to coordinating with native healers to ensure harmony between the two traditions.
NAIHS Profile
The NAIHS is a branch of the federal Indian Health Service, a program run by the Department of Health
and Human Services. NAIHS employs many Navajo from the local community, but all job openings are
filled through the USAjobs website, meaning that people from outside the Navajo Nation often apply
and are hired. There are preferences in place for Navajo and Native American applicants.
The IHS is funded by Congress as part of the federal budget and often struggles to provide sufficient
resources to its agencies. NAIHS has 1,000 employees in service, so it needs the extra resources gained
through third-party billing (Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance). Sometimes Congress will
appropriate supplemental funding for public health, nursing, or diabetes, and there is also some funding
from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration for behavioral health. Other
programs can also provide directed funds.
NAIHS purchases referred care, or contract health costs, for some services. Tertiary care is provided off-
site, and may require a flight to Tucson, Flagstaff, or Phoenix. Referred care funds cover transport and
care depending on where the patient and need fall on a priority list created by service unit executives.
CSU has a high incidence of motor vehicle accident (MVA) trauma that requires flights to tertiary care
facilities.
Master of Health Leadership 1
, People have to be creative and innovative in finding money and pooling resources, making partners
important. Some departments or divisions will write grant proposals for projects, sometimes through
the health board. For example NAIHS staff worked with the Canyon de Chelly board on an influenza
immunization campaign wherein the board applied for and won a grant from the CDC to administer the
vaccinations through the NAIHS Chinle Service Unit.
Chinle Service Unit Profile
NAIHS is the regional administration for the following:
Five Direct Services Units:
o Chinle Service Unit (AZ)
o Gallup Service Unit (NM)
o Shiprock Service Unit (NM)
o Kayenta Service Unit (AZ)
o Crownpoint Service Unit (NM)
Five Health Systems that contract with IHS through PL93-638 (Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act, as amended) who have non-profit local governance Boards of
Directors administering health service operations on the Navajo Nation:
o Fort Defiance (AZ)
o Winslow (AZ)
o Tuba City (AZ)
o Sage Memorial Hospital, Ganado (AZ)
o Utah Navajo Health Systems (Aneth, UT)
Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (IHS operated) is the name of CSU’s hospital serving 16
Navajo Nation Chapter communities. CSU includes two other ambulatory health centers (Pinon and
Tsaile), Many Farms Dental Clinic and Environmental Health Center, and Rock Point Clinic.
Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility is the flagship facility of the CSU. It is a midsized facility
comprising:
60 beds
44 physicians
15 nurse practitioners
5 physician assistants
83 registered nurses
66 allied health personnel
Master of Health Leadership 2
General Information
Over one-third of the approximately 250,000 Navajos live below the federal poverty level.
One-third live in homes without plumbing, and two thirds do not have telephone access.
These factors contribute to people relying on low-nutritional-value diets and sedentary lifestyles.
Traditional Navajo teachings value health, and the concept of doing all things in moderation or balance
is prescribed. In other words, too much of anything is viewed as a risk for becoming unhealthy.
Western medicine is valued for addressing the symptoms of illness. Since Navajo beliefs about the
causes of illness differ from Western medicine, Navajo ceremonies and rituals are accessed to restore
total balance. In addition, traditional and Western treatment recommendations may sometimes conflict.
For example, some traditional medicine people discouraged residents from using insulin injections
during ceremonies and the four day observance period following the ceremonies due to a taboo on
causing blood to flow during this time. Navajo Area Indian Health Services (NAIHS) workers and
medicine people met and collaborated on ways to make sure that residents could safely manage their
diabetes while participating in traditional ceremonies. The Chinle Service Unit has four staff members
dedicated to coordinating with native healers to ensure harmony between the two traditions.
NAIHS Profile
The NAIHS is a branch of the federal Indian Health Service, a program run by the Department of Health
and Human Services. NAIHS employs many Navajo from the local community, but all job openings are
filled through the USAjobs website, meaning that people from outside the Navajo Nation often apply
and are hired. There are preferences in place for Navajo and Native American applicants.
The IHS is funded by Congress as part of the federal budget and often struggles to provide sufficient
resources to its agencies. NAIHS has 1,000 employees in service, so it needs the extra resources gained
through third-party billing (Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance). Sometimes Congress will
appropriate supplemental funding for public health, nursing, or diabetes, and there is also some funding
from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration for behavioral health. Other
programs can also provide directed funds.
NAIHS purchases referred care, or contract health costs, for some services. Tertiary care is provided off-
site, and may require a flight to Tucson, Flagstaff, or Phoenix. Referred care funds cover transport and
care depending on where the patient and need fall on a priority list created by service unit executives.
CSU has a high incidence of motor vehicle accident (MVA) trauma that requires flights to tertiary care
facilities.
Master of Health Leadership 1
, People have to be creative and innovative in finding money and pooling resources, making partners
important. Some departments or divisions will write grant proposals for projects, sometimes through
the health board. For example NAIHS staff worked with the Canyon de Chelly board on an influenza
immunization campaign wherein the board applied for and won a grant from the CDC to administer the
vaccinations through the NAIHS Chinle Service Unit.
Chinle Service Unit Profile
NAIHS is the regional administration for the following:
Five Direct Services Units:
o Chinle Service Unit (AZ)
o Gallup Service Unit (NM)
o Shiprock Service Unit (NM)
o Kayenta Service Unit (AZ)
o Crownpoint Service Unit (NM)
Five Health Systems that contract with IHS through PL93-638 (Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act, as amended) who have non-profit local governance Boards of
Directors administering health service operations on the Navajo Nation:
o Fort Defiance (AZ)
o Winslow (AZ)
o Tuba City (AZ)
o Sage Memorial Hospital, Ganado (AZ)
o Utah Navajo Health Systems (Aneth, UT)
Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (IHS operated) is the name of CSU’s hospital serving 16
Navajo Nation Chapter communities. CSU includes two other ambulatory health centers (Pinon and
Tsaile), Many Farms Dental Clinic and Environmental Health Center, and Rock Point Clinic.
Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility is the flagship facility of the CSU. It is a midsized facility
comprising:
60 beds
44 physicians
15 nurse practitioners
5 physician assistants
83 registered nurses
66 allied health personnel
Master of Health Leadership 2
