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Muskogee Medical Center Authority urges council to keep trust intact, support community clinics
Summary
Members of the Muskogee Medical Center Authority described the authority's long history, warned of care‑access pressures after regional changes, and urged continued trust status so the authority can support community clinics, including the Good Shepherd Clinic and mobile clinics that reportedly served over 11,000 people in recent years.
Muskogee — Representatives of the Muskogee Medical Center Authority asked the City Council on Dec. 8 to preserve the authority's trust structure and use it to support community‑based clinics and preventive services as local health‑care delivery changes.
The authority framed its role historically: created by the city on Dec. 12, 1966, it played a central role in securing local hospital assets and entering lease arrangements that ultimately involved Cappella/Capella and later Saint Francis. Presenters said part of the authority's continuing duty is to maintain a relationship with Saint Francis Hospital and to ensure the hospital expanded services locally as promised.
Speakers highlighted demographic health factors and access gaps: presenters cited a local poverty rate of about 25%, noted that roughly 25.2% of residents are on Medicaid and about 13% are on Medicare, and said roughly 15% of residents lack health coverage. The authority proposed directing its resources to local charities and clinics, specifically naming the Good Shepherd Clinic of Muskogee, and suggested funding screening clinics, resource workshops and medical‑literacy programs.
"Our hearts are in continuing the work of the Muskogee Medical Authority," a presenter said, urging the council to retain the authority "in its original purpose for the foreseeable future."
Pastor Roger Cutler and a public‑health practitioner urged continued trust status and cited the Muskogee County Health Department's mobile clinic as an example of neighborhood‑based care: "In just 3 years, more than 11,000 citizens received services through this clinic," a speaker said.
Councilors asked follow‑up questions about the authority's original funding and board appointments; speakers said initial funding and later lease proceeds helped seed the trust and that trustees have authority to raise funds. Several councilors asked staff and the authority to review board appointments and consider recruiting independent physicians to broaden service options.
What happens next: No formal action was taken; the authority asked the council to consider retaining the trust structure and to stay engaged on appointments and strategy.
