"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Hospital Gets New Beds

Employees at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital work to deliver new state-of-the-art beds to several patient rooms. The hospital purchased the beds at a cost of more than $575,000.Employees at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital work to deliver new state-of-the-art beds to several patient rooms. The hospital purchased the beds at a cost of more than $575,000.

Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital is now one of only three hospitals in Oklahoma to be outfitted with new, state-of-the-art hospital beds throughout the facility, including new beds and beside tables in patient rooms, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and in Labor and Delivery. The long-overdue upgrade came at a cost of more than $575,000.

“When we discussed the assumption of the hospital, we knew upgrades were needed. This is an example of a need that we as a tribe could meet, but one that had not been met under the previous system,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Some of the beds in the hospital were 15 years old and were worn out. These new beds will provide better safety and comfort for the patient, and better safety for our hospital staff.”

The beds, considered the best in the healthcare industry, contain several safety features that improve patient safety and comfort while protecting caregivers. Some of the features include the ability to lower the bed height to chair level, nightlights, a powered transport system, air inflatable mattresses and turn assistance features.

Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah is a 60-bed inpatient hospital that currently offers services in audiology, public health nursing, dentistry, diabetes, dietary services, EEG/EKG, emergency, fast track clinic, general surgery, intensive care, internal medicine, laboratory, obstetrics/gynecology, ophthalmology, optometry, orthopedics, pediatrics, pharmacy, podiatry, radiology, rehabilitation services, respiratory therapy, social services, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), contract health and behavioral health.

Cherokee Nation Health Services is the first tribal healthcare system nationwide and the first in Oklahoma to receive the Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Healthcare Accreditation, a world-wide accreditation which focuses on the quality of patient care throughout an entire health care system. The DNV accreditation matches with the Cherokee philosophy of "gadugi," meaning working together for the benefit of all. The tribe's hospital, eight health centers, EMS service and various health programs work as a team for the benefit of the patients.