Tséhootsooí Medical Center

02/24/2026

REMINDER: Tune in on KTNN this evening for a radio forum on Children's Dental Health month! Listen on AM 660 or FM 101.5 or online: https://www.ktnnonline.com/

February is Children's Dental Health Month! Tune in to KTNN next Tuesday, February 24th, from 6pm to 7pm as we hear from Dr. Valerie Long, FDIHB Dental Hygienist, and Roy Dempsey, FDIHB Community Relations Outreach Specialist, as they discuss children's oral health and how it connects to our overall health. Set your child up for good health and wellness, and learn about dental hygiene and preventative care.

02/19/2026

**Announcement**: FDIHB Receives Grant from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation

FORT DEFIANCE, Arizona – Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board Inc., has been awarded a $5,000 Derrick Hall President’s Circle Grant from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation to help support its Tiger Tots program.

Tiger Tots is a program targeting kindergarten and first-grade students. For more than a decade, Public Health Nursing has provided education in several elementary schools in the FDIHB service delivery area. Staff utilize the Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools (DETS) curriculum to help educate young students about nutrition. Wellness staff also integrate physical activity sessions to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Developed by a number of U.S. Department of Health divisions and tribal colleges and universities, the purpose of the curriculum is to “enhance the understanding and appreciation of the problems of diabetes,…to empower students to make healthy lifestyle choices, and to stimulate general student interest in diabetes-based education.”

We are truly thankful for this support and look forward to sharing the news with all the students! Thank you Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation!

02/18/2026

February is Children's Dental Health Month! Tune in to KTNN next Tuesday, February 24th, from 6pm to 7pm as we hear from Dr. Valerie Long, FDIHB Dental Hygienist, and Roy Dempsey, FDIHB Community Relations Outreach Specialist, as they discuss children's oral health and how it connects to our overall health. Set your child up for good health and wellness, and learn about dental hygiene and preventative care.

02/17/2026

Reminder, tune in on KTNN from 6pm to 7pm today, 2/17/26, for a forum on Chickenpox and Measles. FDIHB's Dr. Alithea Gabrellas and Roy Dempsey will talk about chickenpox and measles and how to prevent. Please tune in and learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Please join us next Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 from 6pm to 7pm for a radio forum! Please tune in on KTNN and learn about chickenpox and measles and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. We will hear from our very own FDIHB team members, Dr. Alithea Gabrellas, who is our Infectious Diseases Physician and Roy Dempsey, our Community Relations Outreach Specialist.
Please share with your friends and family. Thank you!

02/17/2026

Good snowy morning! The Diabetes Clinic that was scheduled for today in Crystal is cancelled. The Mobile Health Unit will resume services tomorrow, Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at Greasewood Springs Community School for a health fair! Please stop by tomorrow and connect with some excellent health resources.
Greasewood Springs Community School

02/13/2026

February 13, 2026 | Community Announcement

Regional Long-Distance Calling Outage Impacting FDIHB Facilities

Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board (FDIHB) facilities, Tséhootsooí Medical Center (TMC), Nahata'Dziil Health Center (NDHC) and Nihi Dine’é Bá Wellness Center (NDBWC) are currently experiencing long-distance calling disruption due to a regional outage affecting Verizon and Frontier Communications. This outage has impacted receiving and outgoing long-distance calls, including those made from mobile phones.

⚠️ 📞 If you are experiencing connection issues with 928-729-8000 or any other FDIHB phone, please call 928-730-5258.📱 ⚠️

FDIHB Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure team is actively monitoring the situation and remains in contact with FDIHB’s long-distance communication service provider for status updates.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. For updates and changes, please look at our Facebook or Instagram pages.

02/13/2026

February 13, 2026 | Community Announcement

Regional Long-Distance Calling Outage Impacting FDIHB Facilities

Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board (FDIHB) facilities, Tséhootsooí Medical Center (TMC), Nahata'Dziil Health Center (NDHC) and Nihi Dine’é Bá Wellness Center (NDBWC) are currently experiencing long-distance calling disruption due to a regional outage affecting Verizon and Frontier Communications. This outage has impacted receiving and outgoing long-distance calls, including those made from mobile phones.

⚠️📞If you are experiencing connection issues with 928-729-8000 or any other FDIHB phone, please call 928-730-5258.📞

FDIHB Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure team is actively monitoring the situation and remains in contact with FDIHB’s long-distance communication service provider for status updates.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. For updates and changes, please look at our Facebook or Instagram pages.

02/13/2026

Friendly reminder, the Nihi Dine'é Ba Wellness Center will be closed on Saturday and Monday for the holiday weekend. See you on Tuesday bright and early at 6am 😁

02/12/2026

Please join us next Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 from 6pm to 7pm for a radio forum! Please tune in on KTNN and learn about chickenpox and measles and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. We will hear from our very own FDIHB team members, Dr. Alithea Gabrellas, who is our Infectious Diseases Physician and Roy Dempsey, our Community Relations Outreach Specialist.
Please share with your friends and family. Thank you!

02/12/2026

Community Announcement: Chickenpox (Varicella) Case in Chambers, Arizona and Exposure at Middle School & Local Basketball Game

FDIHB has received information of a confirmed varicella (Chickenpox) case in Chambers, Arizona.
People who were in the following locations on the dates below may have been exposed:
▪️Sanders Middle School (Sanders, AZ) on February 3-6, 2026. Watch for symptoms until February 27, 2026.
▪️Ganado Middle School Basketball Game (Ganado, AZ) on. February 4, 2026. Watch for symptoms until February 25, 2026.

What to do if you or your child was exposed to a confirmed chickenpox case: Individuals who were exposed AND meet one of the following criteria should contact their healthcare provider because receiving the vaccine within 5 days or immune globulin within 10 days after the exposure can prevent illness.
▪️Children who are not up-to-date on their varicella vaccine (1 dose due at 12 months, the 2nd dose due at 4 years)
▪️ Individuals with severely weak immune systems (e.g., have had an organ transplant) who have not had 2 varicella vaccines or had chickenpox or shingles in the past
▪️ Adults born after 1980 who have not had 2 doses of the varicella vaccine, a lab test showing immunity or a history of chicken pox or shingles
▪️Anyone who develops varicella symptoms should stay home and seek medical attention if symptoms become severe. Symptoms usually develop 8 to 21 days after an exposure.
▪️ If you seek medical attention, call ahead and let them know you have been exposed to chickenpox before entering the building.

The best way to prevent varicella (chickenpox) is to be vaccinated with a varicella-containing vaccine. During a varicella (chickenpox) outbreak it is important that all children who do not have a medical contraindication receive their first dose of the varicella vaccine at 12 months and the second dose at age 4. Talk to your healthcare provider to make sure you and your family are up to date on vaccines. Vaccines are provided at Tséhootsooí Medical Center Primary Care Clinic 928.729.8032 and Pediatric Clinic 928.729.8710
For more information about Varicella (chickenpox) visit: https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/about/index.html

02/11/2026

Reminder: join Public Health Nutrition for their "Taste the Change of Season" cooking series! Tonight's menu:
🥬 Kale and White Bean Soup
🥬 Penne Pasta with sauté Brussel sprouts and Kale Pesto,
🥬 Brussel Sprout Pomegranate Salad.
Sounds YUM! For registration, call (928) 729-8424

Did you eat your vegetables today? The "Taste the Change of Season" cooking series is excited to present February's featured vegetables: Kale and Brussels Sprouts. Come join Public Health Nutrition on February 11, 2026, at 5:45 PM at the Nihi Dine'e Ba Wellness Center. You will discover the nutritional benefits of the two vegetables and how to add them to your home recipes. Looking forward to seeing you there!