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Health Update: Muskogee Cares for Residents with Top Quality Facilities

Saint Francis Health System offers Muskogee residents extensive primary and specialized health care services

By Teree Caruthers on September 27, 2017

Muskogee / Staff Photo

More often than not, access to convenient and high-quality health care tops the list of quality-of-life amenities that attract relocating families and businesses. Muskogee’s two health care facilities – Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee (formerly EASTAR Health System) and Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee East (formerly EASTAR Health System) – provide residents with cutting-edge care and comprehensive services to address their needs close to home.

On-Call for the Community

“Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee serves as the tertiary health care facility for Muskogee and the eastern Oklahoma region. That means we’re the primary line of access to health care when medical needs arise – whether it be an emergency or an illness,” says Mike Gilpin, director of marketing, Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee. “We also provide a full range of services, from emergent care to a nationally accredited cancer program to orthopedic services as well as a variety of surgical services.”

Gilpin says in addition to the hospital’s status as a Level III trauma center and primary stroke center, 320-bed Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee is a regional leader in cardiac care and diabetes treatment.

“Heart disease is a prevalent issue in our region, and Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee serves as a critical resource for these patients with our cardiac STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) program,” he says.

“We are continually examining our services to ensure we’re meeting the community’s needs. For example, with our region’s high incidence of heart attacks and diabetes, we know there has to be a strong emphasis in those areas within our service offerings. We’ve invested in diabetes education – teaching patients how to eat healthier and how to incorporate exercise into their daily routine. That goes along with the population health management approach that Saint Francis is taking. Not only do we want to provide care when you become ill, but we also want to serve you so that you become healthier in the process.”

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Continuity of Care

The hospitals, which were part of the EASTAR Health System, joined the Tulsa-based Saint Francis Health System in 2017, further increasing services available to community. Saint Francis Health System, a locally owned and operated Catholic health system, operates eight hospitals and 82 clinics across the region, including The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, Saint Francis Hospital South, the Heart Hospital at Saint Francis, Saint Francis Hospital Vinita and Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital.

“Joining the Saint Francis system expands and broadens the range of care available to the community. It also provides a continuity of care,” Gilpin says. “Even though we’re a tertiary care facility and can handle the vast majority of health care issues, there are some specialized services that are sometimes needed, and that’s where the vast Saint Francis network comes into play. It allows us to guide a person through all their health care needs with all the resources that are available within the system – and it’s all localized.”

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A Powerful Partnership

“This union strengthens both organizations. Saint Francis Hospital Muskogee now has access to the tertiary resources of Saint Francis Health System and, additionally, the health system has now expanded the reach of our mission and taken another step toward our goal of an increased focus on the region,”  says Jake Henry Jr., president and chief executive officer of Saint Francis Health System. “We look forward to building new and strengthening existing relationships within the region and hope that our presence in Muskogee is seen as a source of both care and comfort. Current and future generations of Muskogee area residents will greatly benefit from having a locally owned, locally operated and regionally focused health care partner in their community.”

 

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