TISHOMINGO, Okla. – Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said the opening of the Chickasaw Nation Tishomingo Health Clinic marks another great stride in improving health care for all Native Americans.
Governor Anoatubby was joined by dozens of tribal and local officials, area residents and other distinguished guests during a Monday, February 11 ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the new 53,000-square-foot medical clinic.
Located at 815 E. 6th Street in the historic capital city of the Chickasaw Nation, the new facility is more than four times the size of the previous clinic which opened more than 40 years ago.
“The opening of this new clinic marks a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to continually improve health services for Chickasaws and all Native Americans we serve,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “We are excited about these new and expanded services in Tishomingo.”
“Our health care team works diligently to offer the high-quality health care so vital to the overall quality of life. This new clinic is designed and equipped to empower our staff with the best tools available.”
Features of the new clinic include 21 exam rooms, 12 dental chairs, drive-through pharmacy services, ultrasound exams, mammograms, bone density scans and hearing exams.
Oklahoma Optical will also provide its services at the new clinic, and a full-time behavioral health specialist will be on-site.
The unique design and decor of the building reflects the tribe’s traditions and culture.
The Medical Center will add about 25 new jobs to the Tishomingo area, including doctors, nurses and support staff, thanks to the unique joint venture partnership with Indian Health Service. Under the program, the Chickasaw Nation funds construction of the clinic and the Indian Health Service offers additional funds for staffing and operation for 20 years.
Governor Anoatubby said the joint venture program provides a “great return” on the tribe’s investment.
“This program benefits everyone involved,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “This plan provides a state-of-the-art facility for our patients without requiring a large initial budget expenditure from the Indian Health Service. It also provides a higher level of funding for staffing over time, which will be a great benefit to our patients.”
The Chickasaw Nation Tishomingo Health Clinic is one of only three Joint Venture Construction programs awarded nationwide in fiscal year 2011.
About Joint Venture Program
The Joint Venture construction program was established to develop partnerships between tribes and the Indian Health Service. Under the competitive program, tribes who acquire or construct a tribally-owned health care facility may be selected to participate.
In exchange for purchasing or constructing a health care facility with tribal funds, the Indian Health Service provides funding for certain staffing and operational costs.
The Chickasaw Nation Division of Health serves more than 500,000 patients each year in the 370,000-square-foot Medical Center in Ada, Okla., and health clinics in Ada, Ardmore, Tishomingo, Durant and Purcell. The CNDH also operates three nutrition centers, three wellness centers and a diabetes care center.
For more information about the Tishomingo Health Clinic visit www.chickasaw.net, or call 877-240-2720.
History of the Chickasaw Nation Tishomingo Clinic
The Chickasaw Nation Tishomingo Clinic was established in the 1960s in a small building on Main Street when Indian Health Services opened a number of “storefront” outpatient facilities in Oklahoma communities.
Prior to opening of these local facilities, Native American patients had to travel to Lawton, Talihina or Shawnee for health services.
From the Main Street location, the Tishomingo Clinic moved to a building on Neshoba Street.
In addition to the small clinic building in this new location, there was a small mobile dental trailer for oral health care.
A new facility, located at 815 E. 6th Street, was built in the 1970s.
Through the years, the Chickasaw Nation added the additional space and services to the existing building.
In addition to services including a dental clinic, laboratory and a pharmacy, the Tishomingo Clinic offers an eye clinic, behavioral health, x-ray, pre-natal care and well-baby visits, Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) nutrition program and periodic specialty clinics.
As a result of a decade-long partnership between the tribe and the three federal agencies – Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), IHS and HUD, the Tishomingo Clinic strived to meet the health care needs of the Native American population in the southeastern region of the Chickasaw Nation.
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