Chickasaw Nation officials broke ground for a new 53,000 square foot health facility Monday, June 27 in Tishomingo, Okla.

Located at 815 E. 6th St., the new Chickasaw Nation Tishomingo Health Clinic will be more than four times larger than the existing clinic, which was first built 40 years ago.

“The Chickasaw Nation has diligently worked to improve the overall quality of life of Chickasaw people by providing top-notch health care in timely manner. Over the years we have made many improvements to our health care system,” Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said. “Today, we take another step toward offering the finest health care facility to our citizens and to all Native Americans who seek our services.”

The new clinic will allow for increased services, patient size and quality of care, Gov. Anoatubby said.

Features of the new clinic include 21 exam rooms, 12 dental chairs, drive through pharmacy services, ultrasound exams, mammograms, bone density scans and hearing exams. In addition, Oklahoma Optical will also provide its services at the new clinic, the design of which reflects the tribe’s traditions and culture.

Construction of the new facility is expected to be complete in January 2013. Once complete, the staff at the new clinic is anticipated to triple in size.

“Our patients will see even more benefits because this project qualified for the Indian Health Service Joint Venture Funding program,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “This program will enable us to increase the size of our staff much more quickly than would have been possible otherwise.”

The Chickasaw Nation Division of Health serves more than 350,000 patients each year in the new state-of-the-art 370,000 square foot Medical Center in Ada, Okla. and health clinics in Ada, Ardmore, Tishomingo, Durant and Purcell. The CNDH also operates three nutrition centers, three wellness centers and a diabetes care center.

More about the Joint Venture funding program

The Joint Venture construction program was established to develop partnerships between tribes and the Indian Health Service. Under the competitive program, tribes who acquire or construct a tribally-owned health care facility may be selected to participate.

In exchange for purchasing or constructing a health care facility with tribal funds, the Indian Health Service provides funding for certain staffing and operational costs.


Cutline 1: Artist rendering of the new Chickasaw Nation Tishomingo Health Clinic.

Cutline 2: Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby was joined by several tribal officials, employees, citizens and guests during the groundbreaking ceremony for a new tribal health clinic Monday, June 27 in Tishomingo, Okla. Front row from left (with shovel), tribal legislators Tim Colbert, Steven Woods, Gov. Anoatubby, Lt. Gov. Jefferson Keel, Chickasaw Nation Division of Health Administrator Dr. Judy Goforth-Parker, tribal legislators Nancy Elliott, Linda Briggs, David Woerz, Connie Barker, Dean McManus, Mary Jo Green and Toby Perkins. Photo by Mike McKee.