Serving a rural area, many of our patients travel 100 miles round trip to see a doctor. Most of the elderly patients speak only Navajo, and live according to traditional Navajo cultural practices. Many of our patients do not have electricity or running water in their homes
We are located in one of the most scenic areas of the country, and offer almost unlimited opportunities for outdoor recreational activities. We are within half a days’ drive of more than a dozen national parks and monuments, including the Grand Canyon, Arches, Bryce, and Zion National Parks. Beautiful Canyon de Chelly is in our “backyard”. http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/travel/23native.html?pagewanted=all
Primary Care Rotations
The Primary Care teams are made up of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants trained in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Internal Medicine/Pediatrics. We provide continuity and acute care in outpatient clinics on site and in our satellite clinics. Our group covers a busy inpatient service including a four bed ICU. Rounds are held each morning to discuss new admissions and interesting cases.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, we care for patients using a community/public health model in a culturally aware setting. We manage a variety of common illnesses, including diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. In addition, we see a high incidence of inflammatory arthritis, interstitial lung disease and other diseases specific to our population. Outreach clinics in cardiology, rheumatology, dermatology, neurology and nephrology are available on site. We frequently consult with sub-specialists by phone when managing more complicated patients. Our goal is to provide excellent continuity of care in a culturally aware setting. http://locumlife.modernmedicine.com/locumlife/Locum+Tenens+Regions+of+Interest+%26+Photo+Essays/A-locum-tenens-adventure-in-Chinle-Arizona/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/516891
Rotation Basics
- 4 week outpatient rotation
- No overnight or weekend call required
- 8 AM to 5 PM outpatient clinic schedule, including a 1 hour lunch break
- Supervision by a designated preceptor for all patient care
- Opportunity to work with other disciplines based on individual interest and availability. These include the following: fracture clinic, chest clinic, adolescent medicine/teen clinic, radiology, physical and occupational therapy, nutrition, exercise stress testing, native healing, pharmacy, and public health nursing (community and home based patient interactions)
Goals and Objectives
- To explore and enjoy activities in our community and the Four Corners region
- To develop skill and clinical experience in a rural outpatient primary care setting by caring for acute and chronic illnesses in patients across the spectrum of age and development.
- To acquire a cross cultural understanding of Navajo patients, and experience how the IHS model interacts with traditional Navajo values and beliefs in clinical practice.
- To learn about the interaction between primary care medicine and public health in a community where patients have multiple barriers to care (lack of transportation, telephones, running water and/or electricity).
- To assist in the evaluation and management of medically complicated patients in a community with limited local resources.
- To consider the management of complicated medical problems in a hospital with limited on-site access to specialty care services.
- To expand one’s knowledge of common problems in primary care and apply a biopsychosocial model to patient care.
Learners are responsible for their own transportation. The nearest major airports are in Albuquerque and Phoenix. Having a car is a must! A car will allow amazing excursions into the surrounding southwestern countryside. Housing is provided in shared units on the hospital compound and downtown Chinle. Housing is co-ed.
For further information or questions please contact Heidi Arnholm, Recruiter (heidi.arnholm@ihs.gov) or Janet Blacksheep, Administrative Assistant (janet.blacksheep@ihs.gov). Hope to see you in Chinle!
