The Choctaw Nation has long valued the importance of the health and well-being of its tribal members. Programs are available that not only treat illness, but also focus on preventative care, wellness programs and actively address health disparities on the reservation.
Several recent additions to the Choctaw Nation Health Services Authority show that this commitment isn’t slowing down. A new 10,600-foot wellness center in Talihina brings the number of wellness centers to 16.
Summer food programs ensure children get the meals they need during summer break.
In April, the Choctaw Nation opened a same-day clinic in Antlers that is open to everybody regardless of tribal affiliation, showing its commitment to the health of not just the tribal members but the community as a whole.
The clinic, a partnership with Oklahoma State University, offers virtual health options to help those who cannot make it into the clinic in person.
Several of the Choctaw Nation clinics also recently celebrated milestone anniversaries.
This May, the Hugo Clinic celebrated its 50th anniversary. In June, the Recovery Center in Talihina marked 20 years in its current building, while the Idabel Clinic also celebrated its 20th anniversary. In July, the Rubin White Health Clinic in Poteau commemorated 30 years of service.
Mathew Akers, the clinic operations director for the Poteau clinic, has a rich family history with the clinic.
“My mom was actually the original charge nurse here,” said Akers.
Akers recounts reading some of the original articles from the clinic’s opening and remembering many of the names from when he was a kid.
The Poteau clinic, which started in a modular building in 1994 and officially opened in February 1995, underwent expansions in 2008, 2015, and 2019, growing to nearly 70,000 square feet. The clinic sends out over a million prescriptions annually, sees about 45,000 in-person patient visits, and is the only clinic in the Nation with a therapy pool.
Rhonda Inman started at the Poteau clinic when it was still in those modular buildings.
“Over the last 30 years, we grew and grew. They built a new pharmacy, then built on the new addition where the exercise place and Employee Health. And just every time you turned around, they were building and making it bigger and better,” said Inman.
Inman said the new clinic was a huge improvement over the one hour each way it used to take her to get to the Talihina clinic.
The Choctaw Nation Recovery Center is a 60-day residential substance use disorder treatment facility for men. Over the years, it has been in several locations in Talihina, from an old rock building to an old white house that’s still nearby.
It’s been co-ed and male-only. Eventually, it was recognized that with more space and better design, it could better treat patients.
Matt Nida, director of the Recovery Center, said, “At that point, it had 20 beds. A few years ago, it was remodeled, and four more rooms were added, creating the potential to serve 28 gentlemen at once.”
Over time, staff, therapies, techniques, and treatment modalities have also evolved to better assist gentlemen in having a greater chance of sustainable recovery.
Billy Eagle Road has been at the Recovery Center for much of that time.
According to Eagle Road, there was a big difference in the new, more modern building with improved amenities, including TVs, workout areas and a better living environment.
Nida stressed the differences he’s seen the Recovery Center make on the lives of those who’ve come through.
“I have seen people come in to join the program in different ways and rise over the years, growing into somebody who helps the people in the same fashion,” Nida said. “We’ve had people who started out as behavioral technicians become counselors, and we’ve had people who have come in as clients, as participants in the program and join our staff and make that their life’s work.”
These clinics and services demonstrate that the Choctaw Nation has been and will be here for your family to ensure that no matter where you live, you won’t have to travel far to get the care you need.