As part of an effort to create healthy places in Oklahoma to live, work, learn and play, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), along with the Oklahoma Academy, The State Chamber, and the Oklahoma Turning Point Council announced the annual award winners for the state Certified Healthy Oklahoma programs. This year, more than 570 applications were submitted from groups throughout the state, and over 480 award winners received the “Certified Healthy” status in the categories of Certified Healthy Businesses, Certi-fied Healthy Restaurants, Certified Healthy Schools, Certified Healthy Campuses, and Certified Healthy Communities. An awards ceremony honoring the winners was held in March.

The Absentee Shawnee Tribe was awarded as one of the Not-for-Profit Businesses for Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business. Accepting the Certified Healthy Oklahoma award at the March Awards Ceremony were our Wellness staff: Sacha Almanza and Sidna McKane. Other tribal organizations were also awarded the Certified Healthy Oklahoma. 

PHARMACY NEWS - ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBAL PHARMACY

The following are a few tips to help us be more efficient in our delivery of  pharmacy services to you:

Be careful not to avoid the dentist too much because, in my opinion, there is nothing worse than a toothache. The pain is so intense and noth-ing seems to make it go away . Some people have said “I would rather be in labor than have a severe toothache.” 

Fortunately, most toothaches can be prevented by visiting your dentist for regular check-ups. Unfortunately, many people wait until they have a severe toothache before going to the dentist. 

In my dental career, I have noticed that the two major reasons that most people avoid the dentist are finances and dental fears and phobias.

The new clinic at Little Axe is nearing completion. The last of the touch up work is being completed and furniture and equipment are being delivered on a daily occurrence. There is a lot of activity at the new site and many new employees are being hired to staff the facility. The planned first day to start seeing patients will be Monday, April 30, 2012. Because of the need to move employees from the current location to the new clinic, the old clinic at Little Axe will close during the week of April 23-27th. This includes the pharmacy. So please plan accordingly with any refills. We will be moving all medications from the old clinic to the new clinic and pharmacy staff will be doing an inventory of the current medi-cations. All the pharmacy staff from Little Axe will be involved with the move. If you have medication to pick up, please make plans to pick it up before April 23rd. We will not be able to allow patients in the clinic during that week due to movers coming in and out moving supplies and employees from one building to another. During the closing of the old clinic, you will be able to call the Shawnee clinic for urgent care. Any chronic or follow-up appointments will be rescheduled for another time.