First Day of Clinical at Cherokee and Unto These Hills

   During this clinical day, our group had the opportunity to observe at Cherokee Indian Hospital. The healthcare system in this community is ultimately run by the tribe and its Elders. When you walk into the hospital, there is a sign that says, “It belongs to you” Throughout the day, I heard healthcare workers say that they wanted to use the tribe’s resources responsibly. In order to make referrals or programs, staff said that the Elders of the tribe must approve of it. During the start of the clinical day, we got the opportunity to observe an interdisciplinary meeting/rounding on the inpatient floor. There were nine patients total. I was blown away with the demonstration of mutual respect and clear communication during these meetings. Different healthcare workers present included: Certified nursing Assistance, nurse, nurse manager, physician, physical therapy, employee health, nutrition, social worker, and behavior health. I was so impressed by their collaboration. Client’s treated on the floor ranged from infants all the way up to clients in their nineties. The other half of the day, we observed pre-natal care visits. It was exciting to care for expecting mothers, and to the teaching provided by staff to them.

            During our post-conference debriefing session, students from other observation sights shared what they learned about planning appointments for patients who come in. They shared that when a client comes in, all appointments and referrals are made that time. They can also check to see what regular appointments or screenings are due for them, and schedule them at that time. What I found really impressive that they shared was that most clients get scheduled for an appointment within two weeks to a month.

            Similarities that I saw within the organization included a detailed report on the patients being treated, similar to nurses shift report. But what was different, was that the shift report was interdisciplinary! This was the morning report I mentioned above that included the many healthcare team members. A lot of the teaching and tests offered at the pre-natal clinic were similar to ones I’ve seen offered at clinics at home. Another difference was their integration of complementary or alternative medicine. Our Nurse Educator contact Kayla shared with us that the Cherokee use many plants and herbs found in the region to treat illness. When I asked a staff member at the hospital what herbs and plants were used, she told me that it is something that the Cherokee keep private. We also got to attend a meeting about Pain Management. A goal they shared was to offer multiple ways to treat and manage pain. In addition to doctors, nurses, physicians, social workers, and there were complementary healthcare workers. Other practitioners there included a chiropractor, acupuncturist, and massage therapist. It was encouraging to see the different disciplines working together, both the medical professionals and complementary practitioners.  

            At the end of the day, we saw the play Unto These Hills, which was an outdoor drama representing Cherokee history. It was really interesting to see this production because it helped me to piece together the Tribes history from what I saw in the museum the day before. This was especially helpful to have this base when we went to the Cherokee village Wednesday morning.  

                                       A sign at Cherokee Hospital that says, "It Belongs To You!"