TULSA, Okla. — Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health (MCN Health) and the OU-TU School of Community Medicine have announced a collaboration to increase access to high-quality healthcare to Native Americans and community members, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health (MCN Health) said in a press release.

Later this fall, the university’s faculty practice will begin providing general surgery services in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s newest hospital, Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare in Tulsa.

Council Oak was purchased by the Tribe in September 2021. Since then, MCN Health has opened several specialty clinics including neurology, pulmonology and diabetes care. The hospital also operates an express care for minor emergencies, a primary care clinic and a monoclonal antibody infusion center to fight COVID-19. Inpatient services have also begun.

“This collaboration with OU will support our growth and expansion plans as MCN Health continues to maintain our focus on delivering high-quality care,” said Shawn Terry, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Secretary of Health. “This partnership will allow a greater number of our patients to remain within our health system for surgical procedures.”

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that has helped the university increase its primary care services in tribal, rural and medically under resourced communities in Oklahoma. This grant funding has been supporting activities for the OU-TU School of Community Medicine in Tulsa and the OU College of Medicine in Oklahoma City, as well as partnerships with sovereign tribal nations, including the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. With this new partnership, the funding will help support medical training to resident trainees at Council Oak.

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