Chief Gary Batton and Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. joined several Choctaw Nation employees and local dignitaries on Friday, Nov. 7 for a ground-breaking ceremony at the Rubin White Clinic in Poteau. The 21,000-square-foot expansion will greatly enhance health care and wellness for Choctaw Nation citizens and employees in the northeastern area.
Rubin White Clinic will add 21,000 square feet to serve northeastern districts
By ZACH MAXWELL
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
DURANT, Okla.– Choctaw Nation broke ground on a 21,000-square-foot expansion of the Rubin White Clinic located at 109 Kerr Avenue in Poteau earlier this month.
Chief Gary Batton and Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. were joined by numerous tribal councilmen, employees and Poteau area dignitaries for the ceremony under clear blue skies.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to provide more services to our tribal members and employees,” Batton said. “This used to be our flagship of clinics, so this is a huge win. Access to health care is always an issue and a lot of people don’t realize this will also add more providers.”
Once the expansion is complete, an additional 20 to 25 employees – including health care providers – will be needed to staff the new facility.
“This gives us an opportunity to provide services which we have never been able to provide before,” said Brian Wren, director of the Poteau clinic. “This constitutes a true expansion, so it’s an exciting time.”
New or enhanced services will include pediatrics, podiatry, behavioral health, optometry, physical therapy and employee health. A wellness center is part of the overall expansion and will include exercise facilities and a basketball court.
Minor renovations will be made to the existing mammography clinic and lab services area.
The expansion should be complete in 2015.