Healthcare disparities persist across the globe, especially in remote regions often referred to as ‘healthcare deserts.’ In this context, the work of the Sage Memorial Hospital, under the Navajo Health Foundation in Ganado, Arizona, highlights concerted strides towards quality healthcare provision for diverse populations, even under limited resources. Working focusedly towards reducing these disparities by tackling healthcare and infection control difficulties, the Sage Memorial Hospital offers valuable lessons for infection prevention professionals worldwide.
Inviting a deeper look into this healthcare facility’s offerings and service parameters, Infection Control Today (ICT) conversed with Christian Bigwater, Director of Public Relations and Marketing, and Tiyarra Wauneka, Environmental Services Supervisor at Sage Memorial Hospital.
Located amidst the Navajo Nation, the 25-bed Sage Memorial Hospital serves as the principal healthcare provider for over 20,000 members of the Navajo community and neighboring regions. The lack of adequate infrastructure and resources and the remote geographic locations of many Navajo communities pose significant challenges to quality healthcare accessibility. However, the leadership at Sage Memorial Hospital expresses an unwavering commitment to overcoming these obstacles for their community.
To ensure effective communication between diverse staff and patients, the healthcare facility collaborates with Diné College Navajo language instructors who provide Navajo language medical terminology training. Simultaneously, the leadership staff encourages the learning and usage of basic Navajo words in everyday conversation, fostering a respectful, beautiful, and unifying atmosphere within the facility.
The hospital has also undertaken several innovative practices to enhance disinfection protocols and counter hospital-acquired infections. For instance, they’ve deployed UV robot technology and are planning to implement SmartFacility, a software designed to augment the team’s efficiency and streamline infection control processes.
Their Environmental Service Department will also leverage electronic hand hygiene dispensers that track staffing efforts, and thereby assist infection control in identifying high-traffic clinical areas. The hospital also ensures adequate funding for infection control by proactively seeking funds and establishing cost-effective procurement relationships with vendors.
In addition, Sage Memorial Hospital underscores the value of networking by building relationships with entities like the Association for the Health Care Environment, helping to standardize processes and strengthen infection control remediations. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the hospital’s preparedness, fostering a deeper understanding of how pathogens transmit and the critical importance of infection control measures for the health and well-being of patients and staff.
As they move into the future, the hospital plans to lean heavily into technology, utilizing tools like electronic floor scrubbers, robotic floor sweepers, ultraviolet (UV) robots, and consistent training. Recognition of the importance of infection control measures and the adoption of innovative strategies are significant strides towards improving the quality of care provided to the Native American community.