A healthy nation is a strong nation, Choctaw Nation prioritizes the health on the reservation

The health of Native Americans within the reservation boundaries has always been a top priority for the Choctaw Nation. In 2024, over 1 million encounters across all Choctaw Nation Health Services Authorities (CNHSA) services drove that point home.

Mental health is also a top priority for the Nation. In 2024, CNHSA’s behavioral health programs helped adults, adolescents and children with several services. One service brought back for this year was the media camp. Teens gathered at the headquarters office in Durant and developed a short film about anti-bullying.

Another priority for the Nation is ensuring that access to healthcare is available in healthcare deserts or areas where people must travel long distances to get medical care.

This year CNHSA looked at areas across the reservation that could benefit the most from walk-in urgent care clinics. These non-emergency health facilities are designed to provide easier access to qualified medical professionals in a timely manner.
The first of these clinics will be in Antlers, scheduled to open early 2025. Wilburton will be next, helping to lessen the burden of receiving health care in these areas.

Because the health of everybody who lives in the reservation boundaries can affect the overall health of the Nation, these clinics will be open to both tribal and non-tribal members. The clinics will bill non-tribal members’ insurance in the same way that an urgent care clinic would.

To ensure adequate staffing at these rural clinics, CNHSA has also begun partnering with the Oklahoma State University Physician Assistant Program to provide virtual care for patients at same-day clinics on the reservation.

Some other highlights from CNHSA are:

• Started the DAISY Award program to recognize exceptional clinical skills and compassionate care provided by nurses with 1-3 awards handed out every quarter
• The Durant Wellness Center celebrated its 20th anniversary, and several other Wellness Centers celebrated their 10-year anniversaries.
• Broke ground on new Talihina Wellness Center project that will convert the “ALCO” building into a Wellness Center
• Signed contract with Epic and began the process of getting ready to implement the new Electronic Medical Records system in 2025
• Held Annual Navigating Mental Health and Substance Misuse Conference
• Graduated several medical residents who have all chosen to continue their careers with the Choctaw Nation.
• The Choctaw Nation Hospital in Talihina celebrated its 25th year of being open.
• Several winners at the annual Indian Health Services awards
• Stigler health clinic celebrated its 20th anniversary.
• Partnered with Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers to open a Pediatric Urgent Recovery Center in Durant, a first in the state
• Began expansion of the McAlester and Broken Bow clinics to be completed in 2025

This is far from a comprehensive list of what the Nation has done this year to improve the health of the Native Americans living within the reservation.

Every day, doctors, nurses, therapists and many others work hard to make the Choctaw Nation as healthy as possible.