News Release
Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health (MCN Health) and the OU-TU School of Community Medicine have announced a collaboration to increase access to high-quality healthcare to Native Americans and community members. Later this fall, the university’s faculty practice will begin providing general surgery services in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s newest hospital, Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare in Tulsa.
Council Oak was purchased by the tribe in September 2021. Since then, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health has opened several specialty clinics including neurology, pulmonology and diabetes care. The hospital also operates an express care for minor emergencies, a primary care clinic and a monoclonal antibody infusion center to fight COVID-19. Inpatient services have also begun.
“This collaboration with OU will support our growth and expansion plans as Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health continues to maintain our focus on delivering high-quality care,” said Shawn Terry, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Secretary of Health. “This partnership will allow a greater number of our patients to remain within our health system for surgical procedures.”
The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that has helped the university increase its primary care services in tribal, rural and medically under resourced communities in Oklahoma. This grant funding has been supporting activities for the OU-TU School of Community Medicine in Tulsa and the OU College of Medicine in Oklahoma City, as well as partnerships with sovereign tribal nations, including the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. With this new partnership, the funding will help support medical training to resident trainees at Council Oak.
“Through our close collaboration with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, we have made significant strides in bringing top-tier health care to more Oklahomans, which will only be enhanced through this expanded partnership,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “This exciting effort is a prime example of what can be accomplished when we align OU expertise and resources with that of our strategic partners.”
“As the fourth largest federally recognized tribe in the U.S., with more than 90,000 citizens, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health understands the importance of uniting resources and building partnerships,” said David Hill, Principal Chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. “By doing so, we can continue to improve our health outcomes, leading to a healthier Muscogee (Creek) Nation and an overall healthier community.”
“We are delighted to partner with Muscogee (Creek) Nation to provide these medical services at their new hospital,” said M. Timothy Nelson, M.D., OU-TU School of Community Medicine Department of Surgery Chair. “We hope to find ways to continue to expand our relationship and provide them with additional healthcare services.”
About The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health
Headquartered in Okmulgee Oklahoma, the Muscogee Nation is the fourth largest federally recognized tribe in the United States with more than 90,000 citizens. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health operates community hospitals, a long-term acute care facility and physical rehabilitation center serving both tribal citizens and the general public. To ensure healthy generations of Native people, the Nation also operates Indian health clinics and provides dedicated services for citizens of federally recognized tribes.
About OU-TU School of Community Medicine at the University of Oklahoma
The OU-TU School of Community Medicine at the University of Oklahoma is among the nation’s leaders in the growing field of community medicine, focused on population-based health outcomes and the social determinants of health. The four-year medical school located at OU-Tulsa is a joint effort between the University of Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa and is a track within the OU College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
For more information, visit ou.edu/tulsa/community_medicine.
Related coverage:
Muscogee Nation announces Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare – ICT (indiancountrytoday.com)