Board of Trustees
2007 IHCRC Board of Trustees: (Seated L to R) Madeline Teague, Secretary, Cherokee; Goldie Phillips, Comanche; (Middle row L to R) Bobby Jones, Cherokee; Bob Bitting, Vice-President, Cherokee, Jim Cameron, Treasurer, Cherokee; and Jimmy Reeder, Cherokee; (Back row L to R) Robert Summers, DPh; Jay Anderson, DDS, President, Choctaw; Herbert P. Haschke, Jr.; and Ed Pierce, Citizen Nation Potawatomi. (Not pictured) Jean Froman, Muscogee Creek and T. Hastings Siegfried.
Board Composition Note: the Board of Directors is required by federal guidelines to be consumer controlled (at least 51 percent American Indian). Additional Bylaw requirements stipulate that the three members of the Board are to be providers representing the medical/behavioral health fields. The Bylaws also provide for three At-Large members that represent the general community. Directors serve two year staggered terms. Directors may be appointed to fill vacancies, but all Directors are elected to serve two-year full terms. Elections are held annually in November in which any active patient is eligible to vote. The Board elects its own officers.
Organizational Overview
Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, Inc., (IHCRC), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, comprehensive health care facility, governed by a local volunteer Board of Trustees. IHCRC provides medical, health education, dental, optometry, behavioral health, chemical dependency, HIV/AIDS prevention and pharmacy services directly to the Tulsa Indian community. Quality, health care is provided on a sliding scale fee, ability to pay, basis. Members of any federally recognized tribe and their children under the age of 18 are eligible to receive care. No one is refused services due to inability to pay.
Indian Health Care promotes quality health care by providing culturally sensitive access to comprehensive medical care. Comprehensive health care includes acute and preventive care, chronic disease management, health education, outreach and therapeutic services.
The organization is strongly committed to maintaining continuity of care and addressing individual health care needs. The family is recognized as the traditional and most important basic social unit in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Our providers are sensitive to cultural beliefs and practices.
Mission
The mission of the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, Inc. (IHCRC) is to provide quality, comprehensive health care to Tulsa area Indian people in a culturally sensitive manner that promotes good health, well being and harmony.
Vision
The vision of IHCRC is to eliminate health disparities, expand innovative family-focused practices and promote an embracing approach to care that strengthens physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness within the Indian community.
Health Prevention Goal
The long-term health prevention goal of IHCRC is to improve general health status and reduce the incidence and severity of chronic disease by engaging the Indian community in ongoing health promotion, prevention and disease management programs.
2007 Indian Health Care Resource Center Annual Meeting and Awards
Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa held its annual meeting and board election of the membership on November 26, 2007 at Camp Loughridge in west Tulsa. Dr. Michael Scott, IHCRC Medical Director, began the evening with the invocation. The 2007 Annual Report, which announced the plans of the Board of Trustees to expand the IHCRC clinical facility, was distributed to the annual meeting attendees (Read the complete story in the Dec-Jan. issue of the IHCRC Healthy Spirit Dec.- Jan. newsletter page 4.).
At this year's annual meeting we chose to use the event as an opportunity to call attention to the mental health needs of Oklahomans. Terri White, Commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, was our guest speaker. Ms. White has a passion to bring mental health and substance abuse to the forefront and to get people talking about these illnesses. She is a leader and advocate for all Oklahomans who have been touched by the effects of mental health and substance abuse.
As is our tradition, Indian Health Care presented a number of special recognition awards to board members, supporters and staff members at the annual meeting.