Indian Health Care Resource Center In Tulsa Breaks Ground On Expansion Project

A Tulsa medical clinic that serves Native Americans plans to double its capacity.

The Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa near 6th and Peoria held a groundbreaking Thursday for its new expansion. They’re hoping with this expansion it will get people in and out faster and they'll be able to serve more people.

Lydia Martinez is a medical assistant in the pediatrics department of the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa. She’s been looking forward to this day for a long time.

"I'm excited because we're going to be able to serve more patients and be more efficient with our work and our skills and just be able to take care of our native community that we have here in Tulsa," said Martinez.

This project will add 65,000 square feet to the clinic and will offer new services like occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. All of this is offered at no cost to anyone who is a member of any tribe.

"Indian Health Care is so important because it is the only urban Indian program in Tulsa to offer services at no charge for any Native American that is a member of a federally recognized tribe," said Carmelita Wamego Skeeter, the CEO of the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa.

She says this expansion has taken about 15 years to get off the ground and she’s proud of how far the center has come.

"We started with a half-a-day-a-week clinic, volunteer, and we've grown to what we are today,” said Skeeter.

Skeeter is thankful for all the Tulsans who have helped them along the way.

"I'm very excited that the community is so accepting of our program and has always supported it,” said Skeeter.

The clinic serves more than 10,000 people and Martinez hopes this expansion will make it easier for their patients to get the services they need.

"We're here for their community,” said Martinez. “And that you're always welcome to come in and be taken care of and feel comfortable with other Native Americans here in our community."

The expansion is expected to be complete in a year and a half to two years.