Three Rivers Health Center

About Three Rivers Health Center

This clinic began in 1993 in a small rented office on Main Street. The Cherokee Nation Women Infant and Children's (WIC) Program and Public Health Nursing provided immunizations and well-child checks. More services were added and a building close to Muskogee Regional Hospital was leased in 1997.

In August, 2002, the clinic was moved to a third location. At that time the staff included a full-time physician, a full-time Family Nurse Practitioner, a part-time pediatrician and supporting staff. In spite of slightly more available space the clinic's focus remained limited to women and children's health care.

Sensing the need for a broader scope of services and to reduce the burden of outpatient services at the W.W. Hastings Hospital, the tribe entered into a Joint venture Program with the Indian Health Service to construct a facility with the appropriate size and scope of services for its service population. The Joint Venture Construction Program allowed the Cherokee Nation to receive dollars for staffing and operations. The Three Rivers Health Center is more than 100,000 sq. ft. and is the largest center in the Cherokee Nation system. During FY 2009 there were 70,764 outpatient visits.