The Muscogee Nation

Category: Health

  • Muscogee (Creek) citizen recognized for COVID-19 efforts

    Muscogee (Creek) citizen recognized for COVID-19 efforts

    National Indian Health Board names Wyatt ‘Hero in Health’

    OKMULGEE, Oklahoma — The National Indian Health Board has recognized Muscogee (Creek) citizen, Lieutenant Commander Amanda Wyatt, as one of this year’s ‘Heroes in Health.’

    The NIHB annually honors outstanding individuals, programs and organizations from across Indian Country whose service and work make a major contribution to improving American Indian and Alaska Native health.

    Wyatt is an Advance Practice Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist who was selected for her leadership and contributions to the development of a COVID-19 emergency response hotline for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health.

    She served as the sole point of contact for the hotline, providing real-time instruction and guidance on evidence-based practice recommendations, triage, consults, coordination of care, and community services directly related to the effects of COVID-19.

    “It is with great respect as a Muscogee (Creek) citizen to receive this incredible honor from the National Indian Health Board,” Wyatt said. “I am grateful for my opportunities to serve Indian Country.”

    Wyatt has since transferred into a new position with Indian Health Service as the Director for the Diabetes Center at the Mid-Atlantic Tribal Health Center in Richmond, Virginia.

    MCN would like to congratulate and thank Wyatt for her service to all citizens within the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation and Indian Country.

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  • Growth not just a breakout session for Diabetes Awareness Summit

    September 6, 2019       

    by: Liz Gray/MCNPR

    Growth not just a breakout session for Diabetes Awareness Summit

    Diabetes Prevention Program manager promotes feedback to increase diabetes prevention

    GLENPOOL, Oklahoma – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation held the 13th Annual Diabetes Awareness Summit Sept. 4 at the Glenpool Conference Center.

    The summit provided a space for Muscogee (Creek) citizens, their spouses, significant support persons and any Native American living in MCN communities to get involved in the three E’s of diabetes prevention; education, exercise and entertainment.

    Participants had the opportunity to learn about diabetic footcare, dental health and eye care while also having the chance to get moving during exercise breaks and sessions. Emcee Darren DeLaune entertained the crowd during the lunch break with a Bachata demonstration.

    Prior to key note speaker David Garrett’s presentation about diabetic footcare, Kathy Brown from the American Diabetes Association presented MCN Principal Chief James Floyd with a check to be used for educational supplies by the MCN Diabetes Prevention Program staff.

    “We work closely with MCN and were fortunate enough to give $6,250 from a grant received from the Telligen Community Initiative to go towards diabetes prevention,” Brown said.

    MCN Diabetes Program Manager Dewayne Tiger said the program encourages feedback from everyone to keep improving the program and events.

    “We are here to serve the people of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and improve their health, our main goal is to defeat diabetes,” Tiger said.

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    Diabetes Prevention Program Manager Dewayne Tiger.
    Kathy Brown presents check from ADA to Principal Chief James Floyd
    Keynote speaker David Garrett, DPM presented “Small and Simple Things: Footcare,” to summit attendees.
    Emcee Darren DeLaune and his dancing partner demonstrate Bachata.

  • Statement from MCN Secretary of Health Regarding Health Facilities Operations During Partial Government Shutdown

    Dec. 27, 2018

    From the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Secretary of Health:

    “As the federal government has reached a partial shutdown, many employees, patients and citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health have questions and concerns regarding the operations of our clinics and hospitals.

    I would like to reassure everyone that the operations of our hospitals and clinics will remain open without disruption. With the hard work of our employees and the cooperation of our patients, the Department of Health is financially prepared to absorb this shutdown. However, the federal government will not be issuing payments to fund our operations until a budget agreement has been reached.”

    Shawn Terry
    Secretary of Health
    Muscogee (Creek) Nation
    Division of Health

  • New Medicare insurance cards are coming

    Office of Public Relations
    P.O. Box 580 | OKMULGEE, OK 74447

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    March 22, 2018

    CONTACT:
    Amy Eden
    MCN Department of Health LCDR
    918-756-0310
    Amy.Eden@CreekHealth.Org

    NEW MEDICARE INSURANCE CARDS ARE COMING

    OKMULGEE, Okla. – To help prevent identity theft, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are replacing all Medicare cards. CMS will be replacing the social security numbers that are listed on the cards with a new alpha-numeric number that is unique to the Medicare recipient called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).

    The new cards will come to all current Medicare recipients who include people over 65, certain younger people with disabilities and citizens with renal disease.

    Your new card will automatically come to you. You don’t need to do anything as long as your address is up to date. If you need to update your address, you can do this at any Social Security Office.

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Health Policy Analyst LCDR Amy Eden said the new Medicare cards will be mailed out starting April 1, 2018 but Oklahoma residents are scheduled to receive their card between June 2018 and April 2019.

    “Once you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old one and start using your new card right away,” Eden said. “It is very important that all Medicare patients submit the new card to the Patient Registration staff at any of the MCN Health facilities so that the electronic health record can be updated.”

    If you have any questions about the new Medicare card, please call your health provider, the MCN Department of Health Administration office at 918-756-0310 or you can see more information about the new Medicare card at www.cms.gov.

     

  • State of the Art MCN Community Hospital to Dedicate its Second Hospital to Serve Rural Oklahoma

    Date: Feb. 28, 2018

    Contact: Neely R. Tsoodle

    ntsoodle@muscogeenation.com

    918-758-7617

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    State of the Art Community Hospital Owned by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation to Dedicate its Second Hospital to Serve Rural Oklahoma

    WHAT: The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will host the ribbon cutting and dedication of the new Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital, which serves the general public.

    There are only two Indian-owned hospitals open to the community in Oklahoma both owned by the MCN, the other facility is the Medical Center in Okmulgee, Okla.

    The facility received LEED Certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

    The building was constructed with environmentally-friendly materials that will be cost sustainable in the years to come.

    By using natural thermal stability for heating and cooling of the building, there will be no risk of carbon monoxide issues with benefits including longer equipment life and lower energy consumption, which will provide utility rebates and lowered utility costs.

    The total facility square footage is 118,075 and contains a weather resistant safe room and data center with Telemedicine Capability throughout.

    WHO: The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

     WHEN: Friday, March 2, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

    WHERE: Okemah Creek Nation Community Hospital, 1800 E. Coplin Rd. Okemah, Okla., 74859.

  • Okemah Hospital Ribbon Cutting: March 2

  • New Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital to open its doors to entire community

    by: Kyla McKown/MCNPR

    OKEMAH, Okla. — With the grand opening of the new Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital weeks away, the tribe wants all Okemah and surrounding areas residents to know they have access to the hospital, as well.

    The 110,000 square foot replacement facility will be located right off Interstate 40, near the Okemah exit, on what is commonly known as K Bar road, with better visibility and access for patients.

    Although most traditional Indian Health Service facilities only serve Native Americans with Certified Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) cards, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Okemah Community Hospital is a $55 million investment for the entire community and its citizens.

    According to MCN Secretary of Health Shawn Terry, the emergency room is open to anyone needing emergency medical attention including CT Scans, MRI, X-rays, lab work and in-patient services.

    “Rural health in Oklahoma and access to care is something that a lot of our communities have struggled with,” Terry said. “The citizens and community members down in the Southern part of our tribal jurisdiction have even fewer resources down there. So we thought it was really important to try for those citizens to be able to have access to quality facilities and quality care.”

    The facility is essentially two parts with the emergency room and inpatient services on one side of the building and the MCN Okemah Clinic with traditional out patient services for patients with CDIB cards on the other side.

    The outpatient services include primary care, dental, optometry, behavioral health, public health nursing and physical therapy services.

    The outpatient services of the new facility have been occupied and running since December 2017.

    Terry said the replacement facility is expected to be fully open and functioning within the upcoming weeks once the final stages of inspection are completed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

    In the meantime, the emergency room is located at the original location.

    MCN took over the Okemah hospital in the 1970s and was the first tribe to run a community hospital that facilitates all community members.

    With 40,000 patients in the MCN healthcare system, Terry is projecting a five to 10 percent patient increase in 2018 with the new facility.

    Once inspections are completed by OSDH, a grand opening and ribbon cutting date will be announced.

    MCN is one of many tribes investing in health care: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-tribes-make-multimillion-dollar-investments-in-health-care/article/5579288.

     

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  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Services Awarded $8,291,875

    PRESS RELEASE

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    August 11, 2017

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Services Awarded $8,291,875

    •Funds Address Substance Abuse and Substance Misuse in Indian Country.

    OKMULGEE, Okla.— The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health (MCNDH) Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is pleased to announce the receipt of a five-year grant award, including annual funding of $1,658,375. This opportunity is funded by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

    This grant will fund a new program known as Many Paths-SBIRT through MCNDH BHS. The new program will focus on a practical approach called “Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment,” or “SBIRT,” and will support earlier diagnosis and treatment of substance misuse. Studies show that SBIRT can be a cost-effective way to prevent more serious complications from substance abuse. Many Paths- SBIRT will screen adults in primary care for substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUD). On February 6, 2017 a pilot program was implemented into the Koweta Indian Health Center.

    “This is a chance at early intervention and prevention for American Indian people in our communities” said Michael Burnside, SBIRT Project Director. Mr. Burnside went on to say “Many Paths is a non-judgmental approach to work with adults who suffer from alcohol and substance use disorders.”

    If you have any questions about Many Paths-SBIRT please contact Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health Services at 918-758-1910.

     

  • Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health awarded $8 Mil to treat substance abuse

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     March 2, 2017

    Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health awarded $8 Mil to treat substance abuse

    OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health (MCNDH) Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is pleased to announce the receipt of an $8,291,875 five-year grant, including annual funding of $1,658,375. This opportunity is funded by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).

    This grant will fund a new program known as Many Paths-SBIRT through MCNDH BHS. The new program will focus on a practical approach called “Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment,” or “SBIRT,” and will support earlier diagnosis and treatment of substance misuse.

    Studies show that SBIRT can be a cost effective way to prevent serious complications from substance abuse. Many Paths- SBIRT will screen adults in primary care for substance misuse and substance use disorders (SUD).

    On February 6, 2017 a pilot program was implemented into the Koweta Indian Health Center.

    “This is a chance at early intervention and prevention for American Indian people in our communities” said Michael Burnside, SBIRT Project Director.

    Mr. Burnside went on to say “Many Paths is a non-judgmental approach to work with adults who suffer from alcohol and substance use disorders”.

    If you have any questions about Many Paths-SBIRT please contact Muscogee (Creek) Nation Behavioral Health Services at 918-758-1910.