The Four Corners Board had a successful annual meeting at the Mexican Water Chapter House in August. The board continues its mission to improve health care for its communities.

The post Four Corners Board Continues its Mission to Improve Health Care appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

National Public Radio (NPR) interviewed Razaghi Healthcare CEO Ahmad Razaghi about the historic partnership between the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Razaghi to improve the quality of health care for Native American communities.

The post Razaghi Healthcare Completes Financing, Groundbreaking for the Ute Mountain Tribe’s Blue Mountain Hospital appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

Listen to National Public Radio (NPR) interview of Razaghi Healthcare CEO Ahmad R. Razaghi.

The post Razaghi Healthcare Facilitates Historic $200 Million Settlement for Navajo Hospital appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

Ahmad Razaghi is featured on the Healthcare Exchange Podcast. A stream of the podcast has been distributed through multiple media outlets. Click one of the links below to listen.

Ahmad Razaghi, president and chief executive officer of Razaghi Healthcare in Las Vegas, Nev., explains the many regulatory and cultural challenges involved in providing care to Native Americans.

The Podcast can be found here: http://www.healthcareix.com/2014/09/razaghi-overcomes-many-challenges-to-provide-healthcare-to-native-americans/

It can also be downloaded at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/healthcareix/id804551980?mt=2

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/hcix/status/515235870694465536

The Interview Notes: https://twitter.com/hcix/status/515234208311439360

The post RH Founder, Ahmad Razaghi, Featured on Healthcare Exchange Podcast appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

The post RH Provides Advice for Healthcare Executives: A Healthcare Exchange Report appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

Razaghi was one of the original founders of what is now Blue Mountain Hospital, located in Blanding, Utah.  During the ten-year development of the project, he was instrumental in structuring a historic collaboration between a private entrepreneur, a Native American tribe, and a tribal organization. As a result, Razaghi holds the right to appoint one member to the Board of Directors of Blue Mountain Hospital. On October 19, 2006, Eagle World News reported, “The monumental partnership between Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Utah Navajo Health Systems and Razaghi Development Company, et al is the first of its kind to provide healthcare services to the diverse population of Four Corners region…”

Recently, Blue Mountain Hospital, Ahmad Razaghi, and Razaghi Healthcare have settled certain disputes between them based on the payment of money by Blue Mountain Hospital to Razaghi and Razaghi Healthcare and the donation by Razaghi and Razaghi Healthcare to Blue Mountain Hospital of the interest amount on that principal amount. Razaghi stated, “We will continue our support of the Hospital by providing an experienced and qualified member to the Board.”

Razaghi Healthcare is the leading provider of executive management and consulting services that improve the quality of health care in Native American healthcare systems.

https://razaghihealthcare.com

This article was originally published on April 16, 2014 under the headline “Razaghi Healthcare Continues Partnership with Utes and Utah Navajo.” At the request of Blue Mountain Hospital, the article has been edited for content and republished.

After publishing the original version of this press release, Razaghi Healthcare was contacted by The Gallup Independent requesting comments to the following list of questions:

1.      The news release refers to a partnership with Utah Navajo Health Systems. Was this a past partnership to start Blue Mountain Hospital or does it continue today?

The collaboration between Razaghi, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and Utah Navajo Health System (“UNHS”) was formed to facilitate the construction of BMH and create a non-profit organization for the purpose of providing medical care for the Utah Navajo People and surrounding communities. Razaghi’s collaborative partnership with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and UNHS continues today.

2.      The news release refers to $600,000 in donated services. What services were donated and when? Were they donated to UNHS or to Blue Mountain?

The correct amount of Razaghi’s donation to BMH is $505,221, which is the sum of $442,635 in professional services Razaghi donated and $62,586, which is the value of the 1.5 acres of land he donated. He made his donation by a Donation Agreement dated December 18, 2002 between Razaghi and BMH. The services Razaghi donated to BMH were project development services he had rendered or would render from March 1, 1996 throughDecember 31, 2002.  Razaghi Healthcare (“RH”) will soon issue an edited press release clarifying the facts about the donation, which Razaghi made to BMH, not to UNHS.

3.      I understand that Ahmad Razaghi was a founding member of the hospital and that he arranged financing for the project. Correct?

Mr. Razaghi was a founder (not a founding member), Chairman of the Board of Directors (December 2002 to April 2008), and President of the hospital (December 2002 to July 2010). 

As the executive officer of BMH, Razaghi was responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic plan for a de novo hospital in Blanding, UT, including without limitation: business plan; negotiations with a Native tribe and a tribal organization; formation of the corporation; retention and oversight of legal counsel, architect, general contractor and other professionals; land acquisition; market and financial feasibility studies; negotiations with the federal, State of Utah, San Juan County, and Blanding City governments; and financing.

4.      From an earlier news release, he is described as construction manager. What did that involve? Did he have previous experience?

See #3 above. Mr. Razaghi has over 20 years of entrepreneurial and executive management experience. 

With the exception of negotiations with a tribal organization, prior to BMH (April 1998 to August 2002), his experience included providing executive leadership (Vice President and later President) in a similar capacity for the Blue Mountain Medical Center, a proposed hospital in Blanding, UT. 

He started his career with a construction management/environmental technology company and later became its Vice President (1994 to 1998) where among other things he provided consulting services for the development of a surgical center in Blanding, UT; he was also a founder and board member of a wireless technology company, a founder of a real estate holding company, and has provided consulting services for high tech startup companies in the U.S. and Europe.

5.      The release mentions that RHC will appoint a board member of the hospital. Has he chosen the board member?

Razaghi and RH have found an outstanding candidate for the BMH Board position whom Razaghi will appoint soon. Razaghi, not RH, is entitled to appoint one member of BMH’s Board. An upcoming press release will provideadditional information on this selection.

6.      Is Mr. Razaghi still associated with Manual Morgan?

Razaghi no longer has any business relationships with Manuel Morgan but they remain friends. (Please note the spelling of Mr. Morgan’s first name.)

7.      Did Mr. Razaghi’s duties end when the hospital hired a CEO or did he continue to work with the new CEO?

Razaghi’s duties did not end when BMH hired a Chief Executive Officer. Until July 2010, Razaghi remained President of BMH in charge of the development project while the new CEO was in charge of BMH’s business operations.

[Originally published through PRNewswire.com]

The post RH continues historic collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Utah Navajo Health appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

Instead of following the closure plan, the Board of Directors embarked on a determined effort to reverse course, hiring a new management team, Razaghi Healthcare, to lead a five-year initiative to turn the hospital around. In 2012, Razaghi Healthcare was proudly able to report that the turnaround efforts were successful; Sage’s finances were once again stable, and the quality of healthcare was excellent.

Sage Memorial Hospital is now alive, well, and doing great things for patients and the community.

Our patients are receiving the best care in the Navajo Nation, and their confidence in Sage, its doctors, nurses, and management is reflected not only in words, but also in numbers. In 2008, Sage treated 6,890 patients in the emergency department and urgent care; by 2012, that number reached 12,737, an 84% increase. During that same period, the number of patients in the main hospital rose from 1,727 to 2,733, an increase of 60% in four years.

On December 20, 2013, Sage received the “Gold Seal of Approval” by the Joint Commission. On October 1, 2013, the Arizona Department of Health Services renewed Sage’s Rural General Hospital license for three years; Sage is the only on-Reservation facility to have such a State license. In June 2012, Sage received one of only two “Best in Class Hospital Awards” —out of 900 organizations—from the American Hospital Association for Diversity in Leadership and Governance. The Association stated: “Your hard work and dedication serves as model to other hospitals and healthcare systems in their efforts.” And in March 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded Sage’s then-CEO, Ahmad R. Razaghi—out of 679 tribally or federally managed healthcare facilities—the “Chief Executive Office Managerial Excellence Award.”

Although it would have been the easiest course of action, no services were cut during the process of rejuvenating the hospital. Rather, services were greatly expanded, facilities were improved and renovated, and the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment ensured that Sage could provide the best patient care in the region.

More importantly, Sage has achieved stability in personnel. Doctors and nurses no longer stay just a few months, enabling Sage’s patients to now create lasting relationships with their providers. This success was attained at great monetary cost, through the remodeling of employee housing, the Employee Wellness Center, and renovating and reopening the Employee Child Care facility.

Under the dedicated Board’s leadership, Sage has expanded services in the dental and optometry programs, medical laboratory and imaging, the pharmacy, and the emergency department. For example, when the Board hired Razaghi Healthcare, Sage had an obsolete CT Scan from the late 1970s. Sage has now replaced this equipment with a modern CT Scan. The Emergency Department, the CLIA-certified Laboratory, and Urgent Care units are now open 24/7, and staffed at all hours with Emergency Physicians—not just “on-call” doctors. Before these adjustments, pharmaceuticals were stored in an unlocked Craftsman toolbox; now, Sage has a state-of-the-art automated and secured dispensing unit.

As the leading provider of Native American healthcare consulting and management, Razaghi Healthcare rightfully charged for its services (less than fair market value, as determined by an independent healthcare appraisal firm), and its contract included a provision for a Success Fee. Once the turnaround was deemed a triumph, Sage paid what was owed to Razaghi Healthcare. Unfortunately, this successful relationship has not been without some controversy. Disgruntled ex-employees and an ex-Board member came out claiming fraud and misuse of money, including federal funds. The local newspapers published the accusations without any good faith attempt to determine their legitimacy. Indeed, there is not a shred of truth to the allegations put forth by these newspapers; Sage has received five “clean” audits from three different independent auditors from October 2007 through September 2012, and the audit for 2013 will be the same. Rumors were circulating, for example, around the “mystery” of Sage’s diabetes program, when in actuality, Sage has properly accounted for all federal funds used for the diabetes program, and has, in fact, supplemented those federal funds almost dollar-for-dollar with Sage’s own money. An ensuing Federal Investigation has brought forth no evidence indicating the validity of any of these rumors, supporting Sage and Razaghi Healthcare in their opinions that they are defaming and entirely unfounded.

Sage is proud of the relationship it has built with Razaghi Healthcare and the achievements they have made together over the past few years. Yes, these achievements have not been made without overcoming difficult, even painful, obstacles. Some employees had to be let go, and parties competing for the same land lease rights have strongly opposed Sage’s expansion efforts. Despite these roadblocks, Sage Memorial Hospital’s first priority has, and always will be, serving its patients. We will continue to improve and expand, and we want the community to have confidence that our competence, dedication, and integrity will continue to achieve award-winning results.

The post Sage Memorial Hospital finds success after partnering with RH appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

L-R – Dorothy Baldwin, Chairperson, US Surgeon General Vice Admiral Dr. Regina Benjamin, Ahmad Razaghi, Chief Executive Officer, Maybelle Kelewood, Board Member, Andrew Simpson, Board Member

Ahmad Razaghi receives The Department of Health and Human Services – Indian Health Service (IHS) Managerial Excellence Award for his work at Sage Hospital.

This award recognizes Chief Executive Officers who provide successful management of limited IHS or Tribal resources, such as time, personnel, and funds. IHS provides healthcare services to 566 federally recognized tribes in the US through 679 tribally or federally managed facilities.

Mr. Razaghi led a management team to implement a strategic turnaround plan saving Navajo Health Foundation – Sage Memorial Hospital from closure due to licensing, legal, and financial pressures. He is also the founder, President, and CEO of Razaghi Healthcare, a social entrepreneurial firm that assists native nations to develop and manage their own private healthcare systems.

The post Razaghi Receives Department of Health and Human Services, IHS Managerial Excellence Award appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

Blue Mountain Hospital announced that it has secured an additional $2.1 million debt financing from the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development. The funds will be used to construct, equip, and operate a new critical access hospital in Blanding. The remainder of the $23.1 million was raised through a combination of debt, private equity, lines of credit and private donations. “Blue Mountain Hospital is the culmination of a historic partnership between the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Utah Navajo Health Systems and the city of Blanding to service the healthcare needs of all the residents of the Four Corners region who have had limited access to or simply done without adequate healthcare for far too long,” said Manuel Morgan, Chairman of Utah Navajo Health System. “Our process will serve as the template for similar communities that seek to develop or update their healthcare infrastructure.”

“Blue Mountain Hospital broke new ground in many ways, this is the first time USDA-Rural Development and HUD jointly financed a new Critical Access Hospital and it marks the end of a very lengthy process and that only strengthened this project over time. We are proud to partner with Blue Mountain Hospital and to see how perseverance benefited Blanding and San Juan County,” said Bonnie Carrig, Community Programs Director with USDA-Rural Development. Ahmad Razaghi, President and Chairman of Blue Mountain Hospital, said, “This project is the first of its kind and has required the coordinated efforts and resources from several public, private, and tribal entities, all of which played a critical role, to secure the necessary capital needed to bring this vision to reality.”

Blue Mountain Hospital also announces the appointment of Victor Dee, Vice Chair of UNHS, who has replaced Donna Singer on the Board of Directors. “Victor’s experience and leadership will be a valuable addition to the Board [of Directors],” said Razaghi. “We appreciate Ms. Singer’s contribution. She is one of numerous individuals within the community who has provided support for this project.”

Blue Mountain Hospital is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization established to construct and operate a 45,000 square foot critical access hospital in Blanding. The new facility is designed with the latest medical technology to provide primary and acute care services to the diverse residents of the Four Corners region.

The 11-bed hospital will have two operating rooms, emergency department, three labor delivery rooms, state-of-the-art diagnostic center, renal dialysis, primary care clinics, pharmacy, and physical therapy. In addition, the facility will have a Native American Traditional Medicine Center, which was designed with collaborative input from the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Navajo Tribe Chapters on the Utah strip. The unique design of the facility enables future expansion plans to be implemented without compromising medical service.

The post $2.1 Million Financing for New Hospital appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.

The remainder of the $23.1 million was raised through a combination of subordinated debt, private equity, land donations, and lines of credit. “This project required the coordinated efforts and resources from several public and private entities, all of which played a critical role, to secure the necessary capital needed to build this facility,” stated Ahmad Razaghi, President and Chairman of Blue Mountain Hospital. “Blue Mountain Hospital is the culmination of a historic partnership between the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Utah Navajo Health Systems and the city of Blanding to service the healthcare needs of all the residents of the Four Corners region who have had limited access to or simply done without adequate healthcare for far too long,” said Manuel Morgan, Chairman of Utah Navajo Health System. “Our process will serve as the template for similar communities that seek to elevate or update their healthcare infrastructure.”

The financial partners for the project are US Bank; US Department of Housing and Urban Development; US Department of Agriculture Rural Development; Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Utah Navajo Health Systems; Recapture Metals Inc., which donated the land; City of Blanding, which issued the tax-exempt bonds; and Razaghi Development Company, which provided the professional team and technical expertise to develop and implement the strategic plan for this project. Other team members included law firms Harris Beach, Krooth & Altman, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Ray Quinney & Nebeker; and Attentus LLC, which provided transaction support and investment banking services.

SOURCE: Attentus LLC

[This press release was originally published on January 8th, 2007 on PRNewswire.com]

The post Blue Mountain Hospital Secures Additional $14.6 Million Debt Financing From US Bank appeared first on Razaghi Healthcare.