"Most residents have some sense of the tremendous impact the Chickasaw Nation has in our community. For starters, it is our city’s largest employer, with more than 2,000 employees just in our area alone. But even this just scratches the surface of the tribe’s economic impact. The most recent addition brought to us by the Chickasaw Nation is its new state of the art hospital set to open soon. It is a sight to behold. Its 370,000 square feet is estimated to have cost $145 million to construct. Included in it is a women’s service floor with 14 post partum/gynecology beds, four labor rooms, one operating room and a full service nursery. While all this is good for Native Americans it also has great benefits for non-Native Americans. Its inclusion in our town will mean an increase in the number of doctors and nurses required for family practice, obstetrics, gynecology, optometry, dental and behavioral health. All this adds up to economic development, a precious and sorely needed commodity in today’s increasingly challenging national and state economic environment. Our entire community is fortunate the Chickasaw Nation decided to build its new health care facility in Ada. It will offer great direct benefit to Native Americans and great indirect benefit to all residents." Get the Story:
Editorial: Ada fortunate to have new Chickasaw hospital (The Ada Evening News 7/26) Related Stories:
Chickasaw Nation ready for August move to $145M medical center (7/20)