WahZhaZhi Health Center open Oct.1
Ribbon-cutting Ceremony at Sunrise and First day of Self-Governance for Health
By ON Communications
PAWHUSKA, Okla. (September 22, 2015) —The Osage Nation will take its first steps into the arena of health care self-governance on Oct. 1 with an official ribbon-cutting and prayer at sunrise for the Wahzhazhe (Osage People) Health Center at the Si-Si-Ki-The Tsi (Strong Healthy Person) Building in Pawhuska on the Osage Reservation. This means the Osage Nation will manage and have full authority over the health care funding and facility located on the Osage Reservation in Pawhuska. The Nation will also determine the best ways to respond and provide for the health needs of the Osage people and other communities served at the clinic.
The transition has been in progress since July when the Osage Nation Congress passed a required resolution supporting the change. Osage Nation Congressman Ron Shaw sponsored the resolution to support the transition. He said the process was, “…overdue and getting the resolution to pass was met with overwhelming support from Executive and Congress.”
The Osage Nation Health Authority Board established an Osage Nation Transition team to facilitate the transition details as soon as the resolution passed. Employee contracts, facility licensures and other requirements and needs were managed by the team to ensure a smooth transition.
“Providing our citizens with quality health care is a Health Authority Board priority,” said Margie Burkhart, Osage, and Chair of the Osage Health Authority Board.“We want to ensure that Osage people will achieve an optimal level of health. By coordinating services that are rendered by individual programs we can ensure that we have quality comprehensive care.”
“I would like to see increased efforts focused on prevention in our communities. I believe that prevention should start with prenatal care and continue throughout all stages of life,” said Burkhart about looking towards improving health services at the new health center.
The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at the entrance of the Wahzhazhe Health Center at the Si-Si-Ki-The Tsi Building at 715 Grandview Avenue, Pawhuska, Okla.
For Media Inquiries: Osage Nation Communications 918-287-5599