Happening today, October 14, 2022 for students. Community event tomorrow, October 15, 2022. See flyer above or you may call (928) 755-4712 for more information.
The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) Awards Ceremony
Navajo Health Foundation – Sage Memorial Hospital, Inc. was awarded the Dr. Daniel T. Cloud First Time Teen Cloud Award. TAPI honored 126 individuals, organizations, and initiatives during the 2022 Arizona Big Shots awards ceremony.
Charlotte Seaton, RN Supervisor, and Geneva Spencer, Lead CPhT, attended the awards ceremony and accepted the Dr. Daniel T. Cloud First Time Teen Cloud Award presented to Sage Memorial Hospital. Receiving the Daniel T. Cloud Outstanding Practice Award were healthcare providers that achieved a minimum 90% coverage level of their two-year-old patients (4 DTaP, 3 Polio, 1 MMR, 3 Hib, 3 Hep B, and 1 Varicella) and teen patients (1 Tdap and 1 MCV4).
Sage Memorial Hospital, 638 Association Address Navajo Council Committee on Tribal Healthcare Contracts and PRC Program
TSE BONITO, New Mexico – Executive leaders from Sage Memorial Hospital (SMH), representing the Association of Indians for Self-Determination in Healthcare (638 Association), participated in the Navajo Nation Council’s Health Education and Human Services Committee (HEHSC) work session on Mar. 23.
The session focused on advancing tribal self-determination in healthcare delivery, with in-depth discussions on long-term contracts under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA, Public Law 93-638) and the Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program.
The meeting featured presentations from Indian Health Service (IHS) Navajo Area Office staff and representatives from Title I contracting and Title V compacting organizations. Melinda White, Chief Executive Officer of SMH, presented on behalf of the 638 Association. She highlighted how tribally managed facilities deliver essential specialty, emergency, and referred care services not always available at direct IHS sites.
A major focus of the meeting was the PRC program, which helps cover medically necessary services when direct care is unavailable. Key topics included:
• Eligibility rules, including “He Who Refers Pays” and “Home of Record” guidelines
• Appeals processes for denied services
• Medical priorities and how tribal organizations can adapt them based on funding
• Patient education and challenges with cross-border referrals and notification timelines
Additional discussion addressed Non-Emergent Medical Transport (NEMT) regulations, including permitting processes, safety standards for drivers and vehicles, complaint resolution, and enforcement mechanisms.
The HEHSC expressed appreciation for the collaborative presentations and indicated plans to explore legislative options for standardizing contract terms, improving PRC coordination across facilities, and updating NEMT regulations. Further technical assistance sessions and stakeholder work sessions are expected in the coming months.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Christian Bigwater,
Chief Patient Experience Officer
christian.bigwater@sagememorial.com
Office – (928) 755-4532 | Cell – (928) 221-4205
Sage Memorial Hospital Releases FY2025 Annual Report
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2026
Transformative Year Marked by New Facility Opening, Prestigious Awards,
and Significant Growth in Patient Services
GANADO, Ariz. – Sage Memorial Hospital (SMH), today announced the release of its Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report. Titled “Honoring Our Legacy: Journey to Diné Excellence,” the report details a year of remarkable achievements, including the opening of a new state-of-the-art hospital, national recognition for innovative financing, and substantial growth in patient volumes.
The report highlights the completion and launch of SMH’s $177 million, 140,296-square-foot facility in August 2024, which more than doubled capacity and introduced advanced services such as a 24/7 Emergency Department, inpatient beds, ICU, labor and delivery rooms, and expanded outpatient clinics including dental, optometry, and rehabilitative services. This expansion has enabled more community members to receive care closer to home, reducing the need for transfers to distant facilities.
“SMH has accomplished so much in the past three years, and we are entering another exciting fiscal year of growth and transformation,” said Melinda White, CEO of Sage Memorial Hospital. “This growth reflects our commitment to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of the communities we serve.”
Key accomplishments outlined in the report include:
- Patient Volume Growth: SMH saw strong increases across services, with Behavioral Health rising 84.8%, Inpatient Admissions up 74.1%, Emergency Room visits increasing 19.6%, Dental Clinic growing 17.4%, Rehabilitative Services up 14.0%, Optometry Clinic expanding 7.9%, Outpatient Clinics increasing 5.2%, and Respiratory Therapy rising 1.6%.
- Awards and Recognitions: SMH received the AzHHA Quality Award, Arizona’s Community Star designation by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health, the Best Projects Award in Health Care from Engineering News-Record Southwest, and The Bond Buyer’s national Deal of the Year award for its innovative $80 million tax-exempt bond issuance.
- Community and Operational Highlights: The year featured numerous community events, such as wellness runs, cooking classes, vaccine clinics, and youth activities. SMH achieved Joint Commission accreditation and secured a $3 million state grant for an Outpatient Dialysis Center.
- Financial Performance: Cash collections reached $44.4 million, averaging $3.7 million per month—23% above targets. The balance sheet shows total assets of approximately $284 million (unaudited), exhibiting sound financial footing and growth.
- Strategic Priorities for FY2026: Plans include launching Surgical Services, Labor & Delivery, Non-Emergent Medical Transport, Outpatient Dialysis, and Elder Care Services, alongside infrastructure projects like employee housing and wellness expansions.
“As Chair of the Board of Directors for the Navajo Health Foundation – Sage Memorial Hospital, it is with immense pride and gratitude that I reflect on Fiscal Year 2025—a truly transformative period in our hospital’s long history of service to the Diné people and surrounding communities,” said Delores Noble, Board Chair. ” As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding access to quality healthcare, honoring K’é (kinship), and ensuring the sacredness of life for generations to come.”
The full FY2025 Annual Report is available for download at https://sageme.me/4qsEpQ4 and provides in-depth insights into SMH’s operations, challenges, and vision for the future.
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PSA – Important Health Advisory: Varicella (Chickenpox) Alert.
Important Health Advisory: Varicella (Chickenpox) Alert.
Chickenpox is highly contagious and can spread quickly in our community. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and an itchy rash that turns into blisters. It’s contagious 1-2 days before the rash appears until all blisters crust over.
If you have symptoms:
Do NOT enter the hospital or clinic.
Cover any rash, if possible.
Call ahead before seeking medical care.
Follow healthcare staff instructions to prevent spread.
Contact:
Primary Care: (928) 755-4627
Emergency Dept: (928) 755-4718
Infection Control/Employee Health: (928) 755-4806
Stay home if sick, follow advisories, and keep vaccinations up to date—#Chickenpox #HealthAdvisory #NavajoHealth #SageMemorialHospital
Sage Memorial Hospital Partners with St. Mary’s Food Bank for Free Community Food Distribution
Ganado, AZ – February 3, 2026 – Sage Memorial Hospital, partnering with St. Mary’s Food Bank, will host a free drive-thru food distribution to combat food insecurity in the Navajo Nation.
The event is Monday, March 2, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (event start time may vary depending on food truck arrival) at Sage Memorial Hospital, entering from Round Top Road in Ganado, AZ. Participants must stay in vehicles; volunteers will load food boxes (one per vehicle, valid ID required). Items may include fresh produce, canned goods, and staples. No pre-registration needed.
For details, contact Mercede Johnson at (928) 654-8037.
Sage Memorial Hospital Announces Reopening of Surgical Services After Nearly 20 Years
GANADO, Ariz. – Sage Memorial Hospital (SMH) is proud to announce the reopening of its surgical services department. The department, which has been closed since 2006, will resume operations with its first procedure—a colonoscopy and endoscopy—scheduled for the morning of January 21. This milestone marks a historic return to surgical services, ending a nearly 20-year hiatus in the hospital’s general surgery department having ceased operations due to facility challenges and regulatory issues.
“This launch is a major milestone for our community,” said Dr. Kenneth Anaeme, Chief Medical Officer at Sage Memorial Hospital. “After years without local surgical options, we’re bringing these essential services back home.”
The reopening follows a year of intensive preparation since the hospital’s move to its new state-of-the-art facility in December 2024. The new unit will initially focus on outpatient procedures, allowing patients to receive high-quality surgical care and return home the same day.
“For our relatives, this is going to be a significant benefit and convenience,” Anaeme added. “We generally have on average about 10 to 15 referrals for endoscopic procedures every month going out, and these relatives are going out to Flagstaff, and to Phoenix, and recently, we have been unable to secure endoscopies at Flagstaff because they are booked. So, this will stop once we open up because our relatives will be able to get these procedures done right here at Sage.”
Dr. Anaeme outlined SMH’s phased “crawl, walk, run” approach which will begin with outpatient procedures like colonoscopies and esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs). By late February or March 2026, services will expand to labor and delivery, including Caesarean sections, followed by laparoscopic surgeries such as gallbladder removals. Emergency surgeries are anticipated within a year, transforming SMH into a 24/7 surgical unit.
Key personnel include Dr. David Johnson as head of surgery services, Dr. Roger Hucek (also performing surgeries), and Dr Swarnjit Singh (gastroenterologist). In addition, future partnerships with Creighton University Medical Center, will support expanded advanced daytime surgeries once fully operational Anaeme explains.
For more information, please contact the Sage Memorial Hospital at (928) 755-4500 or visit our website at www.sagememorial.com for the latest updates, procedure details, and patient resources.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Christian Bigwater,
Chief Patient Experience Officer
christian.bigwater@sagememorial.com
Office – (928) 755-4532 | Cell – (928) 221-4205