Chief Operating Officer, Eddie Hathcoat, joins Indian Health Care's Management Team

The Board of Trustees of the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC) and its management and employees are pleased to announce and welcome Eddie L. Hathcoat, B.S., as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of our organization. In this new position, Mr. Hathcoat takes on an expanded role with a broader scope of responsibilities than his predecessors who served in the Clinic Administrator position. By design, the COO position places Mr. Hathcoat second in command at IHCRC.

In an interview, Mr. Hathcoat explained that his reasons for coming to IHCRC are twofold: "On the professional side, IHCRC may be operationally smaller than the hospitals and clinics that I've worked at previously, but with the addition of the dental, optometry, human services and health education and wellness departments, it is a more complex, multi-specialty setting at this facility than those I've previously worked for. This appeals to me and I want to learn more about the sub-specialties. Additionally, it's a great opportunity to learn more about my Native communities, heritage and culture as an American Indian, in that I am Delaware and Cherokee," said Mr. Hathcoat.

Mr. Hathcoat comes to IHCRC from Utica Park Clinic in Tulsa where he was the Administrative Director of 19 regional medical clinics and 42 providers. Prior to Utica Park, Mr. Hathcoat was employed by the Longview Regional Medical Center in Longview, Texas where he worked as the Director of Administrative Services and by the Hillcrest Medical Group in Tulsa where he worked as the Operations Coordinator before being promoted to the Administrative Director position. Mr. Hathcoat earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Mr. Hathcoat explained that his primary goals at IHCRC will be to further develop the culture to one where staff feels they are at the place they want to be, and from this, the place patients want to be. "I want our Human Resources Manager, Stacie Nutt, to have people lining up to come work here because they hear how good of a place this is to work. And, more importantly, where patients want to come because of the good things they hear about the quality of care and superior customer service that's provided here," said Mr. Hathcoat.

When asked if he had a maxim he lived by, Mr. Hathcoat explained that he strives to treat others how he would like to be treated and he always places an emphasis on being a team-player and being team-oriented, so that the team can come to a goal together. "In short, I'm here to make the clinic as good as it can be," said Mr. Hathcoat.

He and his wife, Tina, have been married for 12 years. They have two boys, Austin, a stepson, is 15 and Ethan is 10 years old. Both boys are accomplished in sports and do well in school. Transferring employment in Tulsa from Utica Park Clinic to IHCRC has allowed his family to maintain the same lifestyle with friends, family and schools, which is important to Mr. Hathcoat's sense of family and maintenance of stability that a family needs.

From all of us affiliated with IHCRC, please join us in extending a heartfelt welcome to Mr. Hathcoat and know that we are all hopeful for a long and promising business relationship.