The Navajo Area Indian Health Service (NAIHS) continues to manage health delivery for a population of over 244,000 American Indians across five federal service units located on and near the Navajo Nation.
Regional Service Scope
The NAIHS operates as one of 12 regional administrative units within the Indian Health Service under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its service area covers more than 25,000 contiguous square miles and three satellite communities, extending into portions of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Tribal Beneficiaries
The agency's primary mission involves delivering care to members of the Navajo Nation and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, though it also provides services to Zunis, Hopis, and other American Indian beneficiaries. The federal service units under its jurisdiction include Chinle, Crownpoint, Gallup, Kayenta, and Shiprock.
Hospital Infrastructure
Medical infrastructure within the Navajo Area includes four hospitals containing a total of 222 beds. These facilities consist of the Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility, Crownpoint Health Care Facility, Gallup Indian Medical Center, and Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico.
Outpatient and Tribal Partnerships
Beyond inpatient care, the NAIHS manages seven full-time health centers for outpatient and preventive services, along with five part-time health stations. The healthcare network is further supported by tribal health corporations, such as the Utah Navajo Health System, Inc., which operates under P.L. 93-638 contracts.
Expanded Healthcare Network
The broader Navajo healthcare system also includes the Navajo Department of Health, which was created in 1977 to provide nutrition, education, and substance abuse services. Additionally, Native Americans for Community Action, Inc. provides urban health programming in Flagstaff, Arizona.
