SPACE PROGRAM DIVIDEND

A Dividend From The Space Program NASA Technology Pays Off in Arizona

Cecil Williams, chairman of the Papago health staff, Irene Wallace of the executive staff, and Community Health Medic Rosemary Lopez examine some of the sophisticated equipment in the mobile health van. The white box in the center background is an ingenious 40-pound emergency unit called "The Suitcase" which can be rushed to provide oxygen, correct a fibrillating heart and perform a great many other lifesaving services.

It is doubtful that anyone would quickly associate skills which permitted our astronauts to walk on the moon with application to the health care of Papago Indians in the Arizona desert. Yet that is exactly what is now happening on the sprawling 4462 square mile Papago Reservation west of Tucson.

This seemingly strange partnership of sophisticated aerospace technology and Indian health care is centered at the Papago capitol in Sells, originally known as "Indian Oasis." Here is conducted the major tribal business activity, with a hospital, schools, headquarters for the Tribal Council, the Papago police headquarters and other services.

The very creditable goal and mission of all those involved in the unique new program, simply stated, is to make giant strides in developing standards and delivering modern health care to remote rural areas. This pilot program, known as STARPAHC, could have far-reaching benefits by advancing the quality of medical care in rural areas everywhere. It also can contribute to the continuing development of bio-medical devices to support space missions such as the Apollo and Skylab projects.

Before discussing the details, it will be useful to know why, in 1973, the Papagos were selected for this program in competition with others.

The Papago Reservation was activated in 1916-1917, with boundaries adjusted by the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. Unlike the situation with many tribes, there were no complicated treaties. Among all the Indian tribes the Papagos have long had a history of living harmoniously. They already had a very good start on some of the supplementary health services needed to make the new system most effective. Furthermore, the Papago people have expressed their willingness to support the system after the test period is completed.

Another important reason for favoring the Papagos was a willingness to accept primary care from physician's assistants as part of a total care program. Arizona is one of twenty-eight states which do not prohibit using physicians assistants.

The medics to be used in a sophisticated new mobile unit are similar to paramedics, but referred to in this project as CHMs (Community Health Medics). A dramatic feature of the new program is that the highest medical skills of physicians and specialists of all kinds can be brought promptly to the patient almost anywhere on the reservation through the health medics and by the miracle of electronics which will permit two-way visual and vocal televised consultation and direction. It should be remembered, however, that despite a new microwave transmission system, the good old telephone is still a vital link in the overall system.

This is not the first time that Papago land has been favored in national competitions. Selected in a meticulous and scientific study from over 150 sites, 2400 acres of Quinlan Mountain on the eastern side of the reservation have been leased by the Papagos to the National Science Foundation. Along a broad ridge at the summit are now located the white domes of some of the most powerful telescopes and other scientific solar and lunar instruments in the world. We know this great observatory as Kitt Peak.

When the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) first sent out inquiries to prospective candidates to initiate their health plan they called it the "Area Health Services Field Unit of the Integrated Medical and Behavioral Laboratory Measurement System," a description that will leave you out of breath if you try to say it.

While the system now operates with help of the mysteries of electronics, and its various elements have long names necessarily abbreviated with acronyms such as STARPAHC (Space Technology Applied to Rural Papago Health Care), the basic plan can be described in relatively simple terms.

First it should be understood that good health care on the Papago Reservation is not something new. What is now different is the ability to deliver even better care quicker and to remote rural areas.

In 1967 the reservation was selected as the site for demonstration of a 24-hour computerized health information system. Since 1970 the health records of approximately 14,000 Papagos have been entered in a data bank operated by the Tucson office of Textron's Bell Aerospace Company.

Regardless of how advanced and helpful equipment may be, it is the people who administer a program who really make it work. Much credit must be given to Mr. Norman Belasco of NASA for his enthusiastic support of the Papago program. Arizona is fortunate in having strong tribal leadership in health, and here at San Xavier the Office of Research and Development as well as a major branch of the Indian Health Service, ably directed by men such as Dr. Rice Leach, Dr. E. S. Rabeau, Dr. J. W. Justice, Charles J. Erickson and others.

The Indian Health Service, established in 1855, have made important strides in their responsibility for Indian health care. As an illustration, recently there has not been one day of hospital care for malnutrition on the Papago Reservation. The programs here are believed to be advanced over those in many other rural areas of the United States.

There are fifteen categories of personnel involved with Papago health care, from physicians to Papago social workers. The Office of Research and Development (ORD) provides training for graduate students, acts as host to many foreign visitors, and provides many far-reaching services even extending into Alaska. The National Indian Training Center at Desert Willow, east of Tucson, provides a staff of teachers, audio-visual experts, and health education specialists in support of the various programs.

Outside care is added when necessary to the Papago facilities through special contracts with health institutions located outside the reservation boundaries at Tucson, Casa Grande, Phoenix and some smaller communities. Services of the University of Arizona Medical Center, the Veterans Hospital, Tucson Medical Center and private practitioners have been employed in special cases.

We must ask ourselves now, how do the Papago people respond to these government programs? Fortunately, the government has realized that Indian culture and traditions go back a long way. The holy mountain of the Papago, symbolized by Baboquivari Peak, is as sacred to them as is Mt. Hermon to many in the Holy Land. In addition to modern medicine, the cooperation of the old traditional healers is a part of the health cure. Some of these practices are not in the true sense similar to psychiatric help, but they fit into the Papago executive health staff's goal to live in harmony, as O'odham (the people), with the environment.

With its responsibility to assure a comprehensive health service delivery system for American Indians and Alaskan natives, the Indian Health Service (a division of HEW) is attempting to provide options for maximum tribal involvement to the end that an updated and more responsive health service may be operated by the Indians themselves.

The Papagos have responded well in tribal involvement and are dedicated to a proud program in the manning and management of their health delivery process. In fact, already many programs are being successfully operated by the tribal services. Among these are programs for the aged who, with characteristic respect, are called "The Wise Ones." There are programs devoted to mental health, alcoholism, disease control and nutrition. There are 22 bilingual CHRs (Community Health Representatives) who work with the Papago people in the villages, greatly facilitating communication between Papago speaking people and non-Papago members in the health program.

A changing physical and social environment is evident on the Papago Reservation as elsewhere in the nation. New roads, schools, and homes are badly needed. More attention is being given to new tribal industries such as mining. A low per capita income, depending on cattle raising and dry farming, hampered by occasional droughts (the average rainfall in this geographic area of the Sonoran desert is less than 10 inches) makes the full accomplishment of Papago goals in a troubled national economy a problem calling for all-out effort and some sacrifice.

Led by a dedicated Tribal Council and such Papago leaders in health service as Cecil Williams, chairman of the Executive Health Staff, Ralph Antone, CHR Director, Irene Wallace of the Executive Staff, and Rosemary Lopez, a Community Health Medic, substantial strides are being made. Young men like Peter Ruiz have taken advanced electronic training, and many other Papagos will soon be able to handle the technologies and service involved in more sophisticated health care delivery.

As yet the cost tag on the expanded services for the Papagos has not been fully evaluated, but leaders in their performance hope that it may have a low enough price tag that state health departments throughout the nation may adopt similar programs and that adequate medical care need no longer be thwarted by transportation inadequacies, poor roads or long distances. The STARPAHC program, as now being conducted in Arizona, brainchild of the Johnson Space Center, may eventually prove that the sciences and technology developed in sending a man to the moon will have had even greater impact and usefulness to thousands in America's hinterlands.

abstract

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, in conjunction with the Indian Health Service (IHS) of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) is conducting a demonstration program to improve health care delivery in space and to remote areas on earth through the application of space technology. The program is titled "Space Technology Applied to Rural Papago Advanced Health Care" (STARPAHC) and is briefly described. The Lockheed Missiles and Space Company, Inc. (LSMC) has been selected as the NASA systems contractor for assembling the system and supporting the field operations of STARPAHC.

ABOUT TURQUOISE AND INDIAN JEWELRY CATALOGS

Since our January 1974 Turquoise issue our mail brings in daily requests for catalogs and appraisals for Indian jewelry, relics, rugs, etc. Two interesting sources of informahave come to our attention related to most of those queries.

First is a profusely illustrated catalog and wholesale and public price list titled "Beads and More" listing hundreds of findings for the crafting of Indian jewelry beads, squash blossoms, buttons, fetishes and castings of varied subjects and sizes. Also listed are Indian rugs, trade beads, stone beads, heishe and stabilized untreated turquoise nuggets and coral. Also tanned steer hide rugs, mountain lion claws and a 1000 AD Casa Grande Pot Collection. Beads and More, P.O. Box L, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Source Number 2 is titled: "AMERICAN INDIAN ARTIFACT CATALOG AND PRICE GUIDE." Volume I, Number I, Fall 1974 came to us for review and it is the most compact guide book of its kind we have seen. There have been attempts in a few publications to assist the buyer in determining values, but never on this scale. Far from complete, what is lacking will be in upcoming issues scheduled for April and October of 1975. The editors-publishers are both dealers and collectors of Indian artifacts and have solved many of the problems in evaluating and presenting a workable graphic price guide. Exceptionally well illustrated with brief descriptive captions covering baskets, beadwork jewelry, blankets, pottery, quillwork, artifacts and rugs.

Published and for sale by: The American Indian Artifact Catalog Co. P.O. Box 1005 Watsonville, California 95076 PRICE: $5.00 per copy

LAFORCE vs. EPA

The discovery of this little paragraph concerning a new development in the pro and con hassle over the controversial LaForce automobile engine which, due to your manifold duties, may not have come to your attention gives me an opportunity to express my deep appreciation of your and my favorite publication, ARIZONA HIGHWAYS under your leadership. Certainly no publication in the world can equal it!

The enclosed clipping from the inside pages of the Los Angeles Times of January 9, 1975 would seem to make it more difficult for the Automotive Industry to suppress such a development if such a desire really exists. From Los Angeles Times, January 9, 1975: Testing procedures employed by the Envi-ronmental Protection Agency in its adverse evaluation of the controversial LaForce automobile engine will be investigated by the Senate Commerce Committee, a committee spokesman announced in Washington. The committee asked EPA to turn over files and documents pertaining to the testing, and committee Chairman Warren G. Magnuson (D-Wash.) said he has instructed his staff to review such material with an eye to refuting or reenforcing claims by the engine's developers that the testing was weighted against the engine. Robert LaForce, one of the brothers who developed it, said his engine was not given a fair trial. He has in the past claimed the engine substantially reduces exhaust pollution and saves fuel.

As an Engineer I have followed with great interest the attempts of the LaForce people to gain general acceptance and approval of their new development.

As the automotive situation now stands it appears we have basically a "Disease" and are pouring millions into attempts to treat the "Symptoms".

On the other hand the LaForce development would seem to attack the problem from a practical point of view eliminate the presence, or development, of the "Disease" with the resulting absence of "Symptoms".

Kindest regards and best wishes for nineteen seventy five.

H. L. Bumbaugh Hollywood, Calif.

The public's interest in our presentations related to the LaForce engine has rewarded us with many letters pro and con. The excerpt from the Los Angeles Times is an indication that a fair trial will be given to the LaForce group and to EPA. Meanwhile, back at our ranch, our faith in LaForce and the quality of our nation and its people is unchanged.

Since Dr. Green didn't bother to check the history of the breeds he calls colors, I can't see where mankind had anything to do with the "selective" breeding that brought Paints, Pintos and Appaloosas to this world. Appaloosas were here long before man even attempted to improve the breed. (Dr. Francis Haines Historian of the Appaloosa Horse Club would have told him that.) No, Dr. Green's book is not the answer we horsemen have been waiting for in fact, it does anything but help. It really is a shame that Dr. Green isn't alive today. I'm sure there are several thousands of people who would like to argue some of his "facts" with him. Regretfully, Diane Baker Mundelein, Ill. 60060

THE ART OF BUFFALO KAPLINSKI

Our January magazine included a painting of Canyon De Chelly by the talented young man from Elizabeth, Colorado. His national and regional exhibition credits would fill two pages and represent major museums, galleries and corporate collections. Buffalo Kaplinski is represented by Sandra Wilson Galleries in Denver, Colorado and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Brushstrokes, Ltd., Phoenix, Arizona.

DR. GREEN CHALLENGED

My main purpose of writing, is the article about the COLOR OF HORSES that appeared in your January issue. Upon reading the excerts from Dr. Green's book, I came away feeling angered and I do not usually feel that way when I read your magazine.

Under the sub-paragraph heading of SPOTS, PAINTS, PINTOS, PIEBALDS AND APPALOOSAS, Dr. Green makes some pretty wild statements

LYRICAL REALISM

I have just received the latest issue of your magazine. As usual, I was quite impressed by its articles and photographs. This time, I was more than ever pleased by a full-page painting, "Blue Landscape" by Ruth Chatfield. Not only I but others who saw the painting were moved by its expression and depth.

Unfortunately, there was no indication as to where I could reach Ruth Chatfield. Would you be good enough to inform me as to how I can locate her and also I would appreciate it if you have any information on her other paintings.

Thank you very much.

Hey Turner WINS Radio 1010 New York, N.Y.

Her Address: RUTH CHATFIELD, 458 Joost Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 It is a known fact, that before a breed can be established, a founding stallion must pass on all the characteristics that make him desirable to his get; in the case of Paints, Pintos and Appaloosas COLOR, and they in turn must reproduce the same characteristics and so forth on down the line. Dr. Green stated... "but there is no practical reason for mankind to have ever endeavored to weaken the useful purpose of the horse by breeding out the pigments essential for soundness and deflection of light."

INSIDE BACK COVER Beauty born of the earth. Segments of fallen Saguaro trunks and Cholla branches adorned with turquoise and pigments are a work of art which makes up the floor of the De Grazia Gallery In The Sun at 6300 North Swan in Tucson. RAY MANLEY BACK COVER Fortification agate from Mexico used to be fairly common at earlier Tucson shows. But because of their beauty and popularity they are becoming increasingly rare. From the J. Mueller Collection. JEFF KURTZEMAN