A Brief History
The main clinic building in Winslow was originally constructed in 1932
as a tuberculosis sanitorium. In 1948 it was converted to a hospital.
In 1977 the in-patient wing was closed and the facility was converted
to an ambulatory health center.
Inpatient care of some Winslow area patients is now performed at Winslow Memorial Hospital by WIHCC doctors. In 1980, infants were once again delivered at Winslow Memorial Hospital by HIS staff. In 1986 patients began to be admitted once again under the care of Winslow Indian Health Service physicians.
In 1981, the service unit received its first accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Accreditation continues every three years and in 1998, Winslow Service Unit (now WIHCC) received a score of "99" - the highest in the Navajo Area Indian Health Service. Currently WIHCC maintains its accreditation from the Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
There were extensive renovations to the main building in 1994 - 1995.
In 1982, Winslow HIS had 36,000 patient visits, with five physicians on staff. By 2002 the number of patient visits had doubled to 64,000, with 11 physicians on staff. The total number of staff members in 1985 was 56. Today the staff numbers over 200.
WIHCC operates two outlying clinics - on in Dilkon, the other in Leupp. A mobile van was purchased and outfitted to reach out tot he entire Winslow service area in 2001.
In 1988 the total
operating budget of Winslow HIS was $3 million.
Today it is well over $25 million.
With the signing of a contract between Navajo Area Indian Health Service and Winslow Indian Health Care Center (WIHCC) on Friday, August 16, 2002, in the Navajo Nation capital of Window Rock, AZ, WIHCC became an independent corporation - The Winslow Indian Health Care Center, Incorporated.
The process and
opportunities created by self -governance and local control spawns a
brighter future with many improvements in health care, especially in
the outlying areas and clinics.