Cherokee Nation's Outpatient Health Facility to Open in Phases This October

Exterior of the new 469,000 square foot outpatient health facility in Tahlequah.

Construction crew from Flintco-Cooper piece together the grand staircase 

in the main entrance of new outpatient health facility.

The largest tribal outpatient health facility in the country is set to open in phases this October after two years of construction.

The Cherokee Nation’s four-story, 469,000-square-foot outpatient health center on the Hastings campus will open its optometry, audiology, physical rehabilitation, behavioral health, radiology, lab and pharmacy services on Oct. 7.

Primary care, dental and resident clinic will open to patients in the new center on October 21. A grand opening ceremony is being planned for November.

“The Cherokee Nation is excited to open this beautiful new facility that allows us to serve more of our citizens, and offer more services than they ever had before,” Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “This facility is a real game changer that will improve our overall health system and is a huge investment in our local economy. It is a blessing for me to see former Chief Bill John Baker’s vision come to fruition because of what it means for our citizens.”

The Cherokee Nation invested about $200 million of its general fund dollars into the facility construction and purchase of equipment. Indian Health Service will fund $100 million per year in staffing and operating costs in a historic joint-venture agreement with the tribe.

The facility features more than 240 exam rooms, two MRI machines, an ambulatory surgery center, 34 dental chairs, full service optometry and specialty health services.

The new outpatient health facility will feature 34 dental chairs, 

along with many other health services.

“This facility is bringing 850 jobs into Cherokee Nation over the next few years, including 100 physicians. Anytime we can improve infrastructure and boost the economy with new jobs is a win-win for our tribe and Indian Country,” said Cherokee Nation At-large Councilor and chair of the Council’s Health Committee Mary Baker-Shaw.

W.W. Hastings Hospital will remain the inpatient facility on the Hastings campus, which will also house the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at Cherokee Nation to open in 2020.

The new outpatient health facility is located at 19600 N. Ross St. in Tahlequah. The main entrance to the facility is off Ross Street, but an entrance from Hastings Hospital will be available to use starting Oct. 7.

“The opening of the new Cherokee Nation outpatient health center will allow us to expand services and improve access for our patients,” said Dr. Stephen Jones, Interim Executive Director of Cherokee Nation Health Services. “We will now be able to house a multitude of services under one roof which will not only provide convenience for patients but it will remove some of the challenges to the delivery in health care that our patients have experienced for decades.”

Inside the health facility is also more than 600 pieces of Cherokee art, all made by Cherokee Nation citizens.

A main hallway of the outpatient health facility is lined with Cherokee art pieces.

“If you come in, we’ve created a cottage industry of Cherokee artists that before wouldn’t have had a venue to sell and display their art,” said Gina Olaya, who oversees culture, art and design for Cherokee Nation Businesses. “Now that this health center is built, we have provided them a location. It’s literally giving back to the people not in just a dollar amount but in goodwill and community spirit.”

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