One clinic, 17 dentists, 56,000 Indians

MONDAY, JULY 22, 2002

The Arizona Republic continues its series on the health issues affecting Native Americans in Arizona.

According to the paper, the Phoenix Indian Medical Center has a capacity for 40,000 annual outpatient visits. Last year, the clinic saw 250,000.

The clinic has a dental unit that sees 22,000 patients a year. Only 50 appointments are available each month and patients line up as early at 4 a.m. the first Monday of the month for a chance to see one of 17 dentists.

Despite the heavy workload, the clinic is described as the "Cadillac" of Indian health facilities. About 56,000 urban Indians rely on the center.

Get the Story:
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Critical condition (The Arizona Republic 7/21)
Doctors find a way to bridge cultural gap (The Arizona Republic 7/21)
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Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov