"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Considering Assuming Operations

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - The Cherokee Nation has begun an objective planning process to decide whether or not to assume some or all operations at W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital, which is currently operated by the Indian Health Service.

“We have the opportunity to create a comprehensive health care system that will provide better treatment for our patients,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “The reason we are considering this plan is that many other tribes operate some or all of the services at the Indian hospitals in their areas, and by doing so they eliminate confusion for patients and give them access to more health care funding by removing layers of federal bureaucracy. All signs indicate that having a comprehensive health care system, including both inpatient treatment at the hospital as well as outpatient treatment at tribally operated clinics, means better health care and more funding for health care.”

Under the proposed plan, Hastings would receive millions in new funding from the Indian Health Service to spend on health care locally. That additional funding would help provide increased services at Hastings, including a wider variety of prescription drugs.

“Right now, you can go to a Cherokee Nation clinic and get certain medications that aren’t available at Hastings,” said Melissa Gower, Health Services Group Leader for Cherokee Nation. “If we were all in the same comprehensive system, patients would have access to the same medications.”

“When you are talking about health, you are talking about quality of life and you can’t wait to try to make it better,” said Dr. Brad Cobb, chairman of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council’s Health Committee. “To a patient, the current system is confusing because patients don’t understand that the Cherokee Nation doesn’t already run the hospitals, and doesn’t understand why the care available at the clinics is not always available at the hospital. By having a comprehensive system, you can get rid of a lot of the confusion, which means a better experience for the patient. It’s all about services.”

The patient eligibility would not change if the Cherokee Nation begins operating some or all of the services at Hastings.

“Anyone who goes to Hastings now will still be eligible to go to Hastings if more of the services are operated by the Cherokee Nation,” Gower said. “Just like at Cherokee Nation operated clinics, we will see patients who are members of any federally recognized tribe.”

Gower says the Cherokee Nation wants every employee at Hastings to stay should the Nation decide to assume any operations.

“Cherokee Nation wants the patients to have the comfort of knowing that they will be able to see their same trusted physicians, nurses and health care providers,” Gower said. “Employees will be given the option of becoming a tribal employee, or remaining at the hospital as a federal employee.”

“I wholeheartedly support the planning process,” said Janelle Fullbright, co-chair of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council’s Health Committee. “I know a new system will be better because of personal experience. I’m 100% behind it.”

Tribes are allowed by federal law to assume operations of hospitals within their jurisdictional area. The planning process will continue until June 1. Any transition of operations would not take place until October 1. For more information about the Cherokee Nation’s comprehensive health care system, please visit the Cherokee Nation web site at www.cherokee.org.

A general information sheet regarding the planning process may be viewed online.