Sells Hospital
Sells Hospital
Tucson Area healthcare services are centered at the Sells Hospital located off of SR 86, 60 miles west of Tucson in the Sells District. Three satellite facilities are operational: the San Xavier Health Center, a large outpatient facility on the outskirts of Tucson, the Santa Rosa Clinic, a small outpatient facility located in the very rural setting of the north-central
sector of the Tohono O'odham Reservation, and the San Simon Health Center located 30 miles east of Ajo Arizona. The hospital provides general medical and primary care in an inpatient and outpatient basis and 24 hour ER services. A 34-bed facility, built in 1961 with JCAHO accreditation, is the central component of the Sells Service Unit.
STATS:
Inpatient admission average about 1,000 per year.
FY06 - 51,181
ambulatory care visits
Est. User Pop 6,458
Approx. 270 employees
A professional staff of physicians, physician assistants, dentists, nurses, podiatrists, optometrists, and auxiliary technical support personnel administer both inpatient and ambulatory services through the hospital and clinics. Specialties among the medical staff include internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and family practice. Some emergency services are provided at the Sells Hospital; critical-care patients are transferred to one of several Tucson or Phoenix area hospitals. As a group, the Tohono O'odham have one of the
highest occurrences of Type II Diabetes in the world. The study, treatment, and prevention of diabetes is a major concern. Diabetes prevention Projects are in place in the schools and community, a collaborative effort of IHS and the Tohono O'odham Health Department. The programs, including several rural field units, are geared toward educating in methods of coping with and preventing the disease.
History:
Along about 1917 the first suggestion was made to build a hospital in Indian Oasis (Sells), as part of the plans to move the BIA agency
from San Xavier. There were initial problems such as finding sufficient water source, however, construction work eventually began in 1919. By 1921, the hospital (made of adobe and wood frame) was completed and had a capacity of 20 beds. Later additional wards were added to bring the hospital to 36-bed and six bassinets. On June 14, 1947, a fire broke out in the roof area of the hospital. There
was no loss of life but the hospital, equipment and all records were destroyed. To meet the emergent healthcare needs, the San Xavier Sanitarium (built in 1931) was converted to a general hospital providing inpatient and outpatient care. By July 1, 1955, US Public Health Service took over the responsibility of heath programs and a mobile health unit brought medical care to the more isolated areas of the reservation, including a new health at Santa Rosa in 1959.In July 1959, ground breaking activities took place west of Sells. Dr. James R. Shaw IHS Director was on hand to turn the first shovel of dirt. The new 50-bed facility was built of concrete masonry set on reinforced concrete footings and the interior frame made of steel. The hospital, living quarters and equipment cost $2 million. By early 1960's, the hospital was open for business and has remained open for the past 47 years!
Content courtesy of IHS.gov
Tucson Area healthcare services are centered at the Sells Hospital located off of SR 86, 60 miles west of Tucson in the Sells District. Three satellite facilities are operational: the San Xavier Health Center, a large outpatient facility on the outskirts of Tucson, the Santa Rosa Clinic, a small outpatient facility located in the very rural setting of the north-central
sector of the Tohono O'odham Reservation, and the San Simon Health Center located 30 miles east of Ajo Arizona. The hospital provides general medical and primary care in an inpatient and outpatient basis and 24 hour ER services. A 34-bed facility, built in 1961 with JCAHO accreditation, is the central component of the Sells Service Unit.
STATS:
Inpatient admission average about 1,000 per year.
FY06 - 51,181
ambulatory care visits
Est. User Pop 6,458
Approx. 270 employees
A professional staff of physicians, physician assistants, dentists, nurses, podiatrists, optometrists, and auxiliary technical support personnel administer both inpatient and ambulatory services through the hospital and clinics. Specialties among the medical staff include internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and family practice. Some emergency services are provided at the Sells Hospital; critical-care patients are transferred to one of several Tucson or Phoenix area hospitals. As a group, the Tohono O'odham have one of the
highest occurrences of Type II Diabetes in the world. The study, treatment, and prevention of diabetes is a major concern. Diabetes prevention Projects are in place in the schools and community, a collaborative effort of IHS and the Tohono O'odham Health Department. The programs, including several rural field units, are geared toward educating in methods of coping with and preventing the disease.
History:
Along about 1917 the first suggestion was made to build a hospital in Indian Oasis (Sells), as part of the plans to move the BIA agency
from San Xavier. There were initial problems such as finding sufficient water source, however, construction work eventually began in 1919. By 1921, the hospital (made of adobe and wood frame) was completed and had a capacity of 20 beds. Later additional wards were added to bring the hospital to 36-bed and six bassinets. On June 14, 1947, a fire broke out in the roof area of the hospital. There
was no loss of life but the hospital, equipment and all records were destroyed. To meet the emergent healthcare needs, the San Xavier Sanitarium (built in 1931) was converted to a general hospital providing inpatient and outpatient care. By July 1, 1955, US Public Health Service took over the responsibility of heath programs and a mobile health unit brought medical care to the more isolated areas of the reservation, including a new health at Santa Rosa in 1959.In July 1959, ground breaking activities took place west of Sells. Dr. James R. Shaw IHS Director was on hand to turn the first shovel of dirt. The new 50-bed facility was built of concrete masonry set on reinforced concrete footings and the interior frame made of steel. The hospital, living quarters and equipment cost $2 million. By early 1960's, the hospital was open for business and has remained open for the past 47 years!
Content courtesy of IHS.gov
