Post by Okwes on Mar 31, 2006 10:22:47 GMT -5
Native population vulnerable to disease Councilor ties death
rate to lack of health insurance
By Ryan Hall The Daily Times
Mar 24, 2006, 06:00 am
www.daily-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060324/NEWS01/60\
3240306/1001/ARCHIVE
<http://www.daily-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060324/NEWS01/6\
03240306/1001/ARCHIVE>
Editor's note: This is the fourth installment in a five-part series
examining the findings of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
report released earlier this year entitled, "The Farmington Report:
Civil Rights for Native Americans 30 Years Later."
FARMINGTON -- American Indians are about seven times more likely than
the general population to die from alcoholism, six-and-a-half times more
likely to die from tuberculosis and four times as likely to die from
diabetes, according to "The Farmington Report: Civil Rights for Native
Americans 30 Years Later."
"We see that (locally) in the diabetes rates," said Ervin Chavez, tribal
and governmental liaison for San Juan Region Medical Center.
In addition, more than a quarter of Native Americans don't have
healthcare coverage and many are underinsured.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate LoRenzo Bates said the cause-of-death
statistics are directly connected to the lack of insurance.
"(Death related to illness) is out there. I think that's all related
back to the healthcare (costs)," he said.
Bates credited U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., for his recent speeches on
the reservation about new Medicare options.
"That's what needs to be done," he said.
Though Bates criticized the cost of healthcare, especially for elders on
a fixed income with little or no insurance coverage, he noted that
service at local facilities have improved over the past 30 years, a
sentiment the report agreed with.
According to the report, Native Americans said they were refused
services at local hospitals in 1974, but no such claims were made during
interviews for the new report.
"I think that (access to service) has improved," Bates said. "I haven't
heard or seen that occurring."
"As a sole community provider, we do not refuse services to anyone,"
noted Eric Fisher, public relations coordinator for San Juan Regional
Medical Center in Farmington.
"I think it's really turned around here in Farmington. I think it's
totally a different picture now," added Chavez.
Another concern for the Native American community that has been
addressed in San Juan County, according to the report, is alcoholism,
particularly for those who can't afford healthcare.
"Alcohol is a problem; alcohol applies to all (races)," said Bates, who
noted the lack of opportunity and high unemployment rate on the
reservation are factors in Navajos drinking.
"We have to go off of Navajo (land for jobs). Our way of life becomes a
real burden on us. You get down in the dumps, so you turn to alcohol,"
he said.
"We see the end results of that in the emergency room," said Chavez in
regard to alcohol abuse.
Bates noted that while alcohol is a problem, the city and various local
organizations deserve credit for creating and opening the Totah
Behavioral Health Authority (TBHA), which treats those with alcohol
abuse problems.
Paul Ehrlich, executive director of TBHA, said the facility currently
handles 134 active cases per month and has referred 225 long-term
residential cases to other facilities, estimated at a cost of $5
million. Ehrlich noted services are at no cost to the city, state,
county or individual.
"We've found beds where funding is available," he said.
Bates agreed. He said such a facility, which was created through
cooperation between the city, Navajo Nation and various local
organizations, would not have been possible 30 years ago.
"That would have never been considered, never thought of. That would
have been the last thing Farmington would have ventured out," he said.
"Farmington stepped up to the plate. It shows the city of Farmington
cares."
Currently, approximately 93 percent of TBHA's clients are Native, with
95 percent of those clients being Navajo, Ehrlich said.
According to the Farmington Report, a study done in 2000 showed there
were over 700 uninsured and untreated "chronic public inebriates in the
region."
Ehrlich said he believes the center has reached a number of those
individuals.
"In the beginning, it was slow. It took a couple years to gain
momentum," he said. "We certainly feel it's made a difference to have so
many people have access to care. It's both a valuable service and a
powerful symbol (of cooperation)."
Bates also addressed another issue cited in the report: Suicide
statistics. According to the document, the suicide rate for American
Indians is 190 percent of the rate of the general population, with
suicide being the second leading cause of death for American Indians
ages 15-24 and the third leading cause of death among those ages 5-14.
"It goes back to the economic conditions of the reservation," said
Bates, noting there aren't a lot of economic opportunities on the Navajo
Nation, making it difficult for people to provide for their family or
envision a future for themselves.
"At the end of the day, they just go home and give up and that's sad,
very sad," he said, referring to those who commit suicide and those who
are ill and can't get proper treatment.
Chavez said he didn't have any statistics on the number of attempted
suicide cases that SJRMC deals with, but spoke of experiences in his
community of Huerfano, where there was a recent number of attempts by
Native Americans ages 14-22.
"There for a while we were having quite a few," he said. "We had a rash
of suicides in our community."
He noted that he didn't have any numbers to show whether the incidents
in Huerfano were reflective of San Juan County as a whole.
Another healthcare concern cited in the report was the nationwide
underfunding of Indian Health Services (IHS) and the locations of its
eight service units on the reservation.
Officials from Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock deferred all
requests to the IHS office in Window Rock, Ariz., which did not respond
to e-mail requests for an interview.
Bates said the purpose of IHS is to serve the community, which isn't
being done to the degree he believes it should be.
"With the decrease of funding, that purpose is diminishing," he said.
Chavez added that due to the distance some Navajo Nation residents must
travel to reach an IHS hospital, SJRMC is receiving more patients from
the reservation.
"(Distance to care) has been a problem. They end up going to San Juan
Regional medical Center. It makes sense, you go to the nearest medical
facility," he said.
Lillian J. KellyThe Daily Times This hogan sits on the campus of Totah
Behavioral Health Authority, a Farmington facility where local residents
can find help with alcohol addiction. According to Paul Ehrlich, the
executive director, many of the clients are Native American.
rate to lack of health insurance
By Ryan Hall The Daily Times
Mar 24, 2006, 06:00 am
www.daily-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060324/NEWS01/60\
3240306/1001/ARCHIVE
<http://www.daily-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060324/NEWS01/6\
03240306/1001/ARCHIVE>
Editor's note: This is the fourth installment in a five-part series
examining the findings of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
report released earlier this year entitled, "The Farmington Report:
Civil Rights for Native Americans 30 Years Later."
FARMINGTON -- American Indians are about seven times more likely than
the general population to die from alcoholism, six-and-a-half times more
likely to die from tuberculosis and four times as likely to die from
diabetes, according to "The Farmington Report: Civil Rights for Native
Americans 30 Years Later."
"We see that (locally) in the diabetes rates," said Ervin Chavez, tribal
and governmental liaison for San Juan Region Medical Center.
In addition, more than a quarter of Native Americans don't have
healthcare coverage and many are underinsured.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate LoRenzo Bates said the cause-of-death
statistics are directly connected to the lack of insurance.
"(Death related to illness) is out there. I think that's all related
back to the healthcare (costs)," he said.
Bates credited U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., for his recent speeches on
the reservation about new Medicare options.
"That's what needs to be done," he said.
Though Bates criticized the cost of healthcare, especially for elders on
a fixed income with little or no insurance coverage, he noted that
service at local facilities have improved over the past 30 years, a
sentiment the report agreed with.
According to the report, Native Americans said they were refused
services at local hospitals in 1974, but no such claims were made during
interviews for the new report.
"I think that (access to service) has improved," Bates said. "I haven't
heard or seen that occurring."
"As a sole community provider, we do not refuse services to anyone,"
noted Eric Fisher, public relations coordinator for San Juan Regional
Medical Center in Farmington.
"I think it's really turned around here in Farmington. I think it's
totally a different picture now," added Chavez.
Another concern for the Native American community that has been
addressed in San Juan County, according to the report, is alcoholism,
particularly for those who can't afford healthcare.
"Alcohol is a problem; alcohol applies to all (races)," said Bates, who
noted the lack of opportunity and high unemployment rate on the
reservation are factors in Navajos drinking.
"We have to go off of Navajo (land for jobs). Our way of life becomes a
real burden on us. You get down in the dumps, so you turn to alcohol,"
he said.
"We see the end results of that in the emergency room," said Chavez in
regard to alcohol abuse.
Bates noted that while alcohol is a problem, the city and various local
organizations deserve credit for creating and opening the Totah
Behavioral Health Authority (TBHA), which treats those with alcohol
abuse problems.
Paul Ehrlich, executive director of TBHA, said the facility currently
handles 134 active cases per month and has referred 225 long-term
residential cases to other facilities, estimated at a cost of $5
million. Ehrlich noted services are at no cost to the city, state,
county or individual.
"We've found beds where funding is available," he said.
Bates agreed. He said such a facility, which was created through
cooperation between the city, Navajo Nation and various local
organizations, would not have been possible 30 years ago.
"That would have never been considered, never thought of. That would
have been the last thing Farmington would have ventured out," he said.
"Farmington stepped up to the plate. It shows the city of Farmington
cares."
Currently, approximately 93 percent of TBHA's clients are Native, with
95 percent of those clients being Navajo, Ehrlich said.
According to the Farmington Report, a study done in 2000 showed there
were over 700 uninsured and untreated "chronic public inebriates in the
region."
Ehrlich said he believes the center has reached a number of those
individuals.
"In the beginning, it was slow. It took a couple years to gain
momentum," he said. "We certainly feel it's made a difference to have so
many people have access to care. It's both a valuable service and a
powerful symbol (of cooperation)."
Bates also addressed another issue cited in the report: Suicide
statistics. According to the document, the suicide rate for American
Indians is 190 percent of the rate of the general population, with
suicide being the second leading cause of death for American Indians
ages 15-24 and the third leading cause of death among those ages 5-14.
"It goes back to the economic conditions of the reservation," said
Bates, noting there aren't a lot of economic opportunities on the Navajo
Nation, making it difficult for people to provide for their family or
envision a future for themselves.
"At the end of the day, they just go home and give up and that's sad,
very sad," he said, referring to those who commit suicide and those who
are ill and can't get proper treatment.
Chavez said he didn't have any statistics on the number of attempted
suicide cases that SJRMC deals with, but spoke of experiences in his
community of Huerfano, where there was a recent number of attempts by
Native Americans ages 14-22.
"There for a while we were having quite a few," he said. "We had a rash
of suicides in our community."
He noted that he didn't have any numbers to show whether the incidents
in Huerfano were reflective of San Juan County as a whole.
Another healthcare concern cited in the report was the nationwide
underfunding of Indian Health Services (IHS) and the locations of its
eight service units on the reservation.
Officials from Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock deferred all
requests to the IHS office in Window Rock, Ariz., which did not respond
to e-mail requests for an interview.
Bates said the purpose of IHS is to serve the community, which isn't
being done to the degree he believes it should be.
"With the decrease of funding, that purpose is diminishing," he said.
Chavez added that due to the distance some Navajo Nation residents must
travel to reach an IHS hospital, SJRMC is receiving more patients from
the reservation.
"(Distance to care) has been a problem. They end up going to San Juan
Regional medical Center. It makes sense, you go to the nearest medical
facility," he said.
Lillian J. KellyThe Daily Times This hogan sits on the campus of Totah
Behavioral Health Authority, a Farmington facility where local residents
can find help with alcohol addiction. According to Paul Ehrlich, the
executive director, many of the clients are Native American.