Cherokee Healthcare

According to The Cherokee Indian Hospital (2017), “The Cherokee Indian Hospital is governed by the EBCI Tribal Council appointed board which consists of community leaders, tribal member health care professionals, and other professionals” (CIHA 2017). These members of the governing board are ultimately the ones who run the healthcare system in this community and make all the decision regarding healthcare. Within the Cherokee hospital, the healthcare team is composed of healthcare professionals such as CNA, LPN, CMA, RN, NP, and physicians. There are also radiologists, nutritionist, technicians, pharmacist, dental staff, chiropractor, and healthcare professionals who deliver complimentary forms of medicine such as acupuncture and massage therapy. When a patient enters the Cherokee Indian hospital with a need or some sort of injury, they are seen first in the emergency department by nurses, certified nursing assistants, and physicians. From the emergency room, the patient is either given medication or measures to fix their aliment such as an adjustment of a bone. If the condition is severe, the patient will be admitted to the in-patient department of the hospital for further treatment. This process is done similarly to the hospitals back in Peoria. If a patient comes into the emergency room, healthcare staff evaluates them and if their condition is severe, they will be admitted to the hospital. However, the difference between Cherokee and Peoria hospitals are the different department options for patients to be placed within. Our hospitals have mental health, orthopedics, pediatrics, and surgical floors for patients to be placed as opposed to the single in-patient department seen at Cherokee Indian Hospital. Within the Cherokee Indian Hospital complementary forms of medicine are provided such as massage therapy, a chiropractor, and acupuncture. Other types of alternative medicine practiced within this culture include herbal medicine, essential oils, and incents. According to Cherokee Nation (2017), “Cherokee healers use small pieces of black gum bark and twigs and combine it into a mild tea to relive chest pain” (Cherokee Nation 2017). Many other herbal remedies can be found on their website as seen on the link below!

http://www.cherokee.org/About-The-Nation/Culture/General/Cherokee-Medicinal-Herbs

 References

Cherokee Nation. (2017). Cherokee Medicinal Herbs . Retrieved from http://www.cherokee.org/About-The-Nation/Culture/General/Cherokee-Medicinal-Herbs

CIHA. (2017). About Us. Retrieved from http://cherokeehospital.org/page?title=About-Us