Cherokee Nation health leaders report rising surgical volume, measles response and pharmacy mail delays

Cherokee Nation health leaders told a committee meeting in Tahlequah that surgical clinic changes have produced a sharp rise in procedures, that the system is actively responding to a local measles outbreak, and that mail-order prescription delays tied to the U.S. Postal Service are affecting some patients.

Commander Murray, a hospital operations leader, said clinic scheduling changes — including 10-hour clinic days and expanded access — led to a 67 percent increase in patients in March 2025 compared with March 2024 and produced “the highest number of patients scoped in a month since December of 2016,” and “the highest number of total scopes and procedures in a month since October of 2018.” He said the added clinic hours have filled the operating room more often and helped increase procedures.

The committee heard that staffing changes are occurring. Commander Murray said the system has offered early-retirement packages and that “we've lost eight employees” who elected to take the early-retirement option; their last days were expected within a few weeks. He also told the committee that some on-site services have been restructured: chiropractic care has been moved from an on-site clinic into a purchase-referred-care (PRC) model to align with Cherokee Nation practices, and some orthodontic services were discontinued as a routine offering.

Dr. Steven Jones, introduced as representing Cherokee Nation Health Services, said…