"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Hastings Hospital Assumption Passed

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council’s Health Committee approved a resolution for assumption of W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah. The recommendation will now go to a vote of the full Tribal Council for final approval. Estimates show that an additional $4 million per year in resources could come to the Cherokee Nation for the operation of W.W. Hastings.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council’s Health Committee approved a resolution for assumption of W.W. Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah by a 13-3 vote during the meeting of the committee on Tuesday. The recommendation will now go to a vote of the full 17-member Tribal Council for final approval.

“This is a great step toward building a comprehensive health care system that will not only benefit Cherokees, but all American Indians who use the services of W.W. Hastings,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “By working together, we have the opportunity to create the best health care system in northeastern Oklahoma.”

It is anticipated that assumption of services by the Cherokee Nation will greatly increase the amount of funding available for health care services through the amounts transferred from Indian Health Service (IHS) as well as additional funding and grants that would be available to the tribe. Current estimates show that an additional $4 million per year could come to the Cherokee Nation for the operation of W.W. Hastings. This would be additional funding that is currently not available to IHS for operation of the hospital.

“I’m thrilled about it,” said Janelle Lattimore Fullbright, co-chair of the Council’s health committee. “This was one of my goals when I got on the council. We’ll be able to improve services and it’ll be better for everyone.”

Final approval of the plan would also lay the groundwork for the construction of several new health care facilities to expand services at Hastings. Last month, the Cherokee Nation outlined its long range vision for health care in Tahlequah to address the space needs at Hastings. Plans call for the Cherokee Nation to construct five new buildings on tribally owned land near the hospital, if it assumes operations, including a 200,000 square foot health care facility, a surgery center, doctors’ offices, medical storage and a health programs building.

Last year, W.W. Hastings Hospital recorded approximately 244,000 patient visits in space meant to accommodate approximately 60,000 patient visits. Currently, approximately 25-30 percent of the facility is being utilized for non-patient care. However, the federal government currently has no plan in place to expand the space at the hospital, resulting in long wait times for patients needing care.

“Hastings does a good job,” said Cara Cowan Watts, who represents Rogers County on the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council. “The only way Hastings will be better is for them to have additional resources to work with, which the federal government is not going to do.”

In January, the Cherokee Nation initiated a planning process to assess the benefits of expanding the tribe’s funding agreement to include operations of W.W. Hastings, with the focus being on improving patient care. Tribal representatives worked closely with IHS officials and negotiated an agreement on a transfer of operations beginning October 1, 2008, pending approval of the Tribal Council.

“We are confident that assuming operations of W.W. Hastings will provide a seamless and comprehensive health care system for the use and benefit of our citizens and others who use the facility,” said Melissa Gower, Group Leader for Cherokee Nation Health Services. “The plans are in place, but none of it can happen unless the Cherokee Nation’s health care system and Hastings are managed by the Cherokee Nation.”

Council Members Tina Glory Jordan, representing the Cherokee District in Cherokee County, and Joe Crittenden and Jodie Fishinghawk representing the Trail of Tears District in Adair County, were the only members voting against the resolution.