TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System will officially open its VA Clinic inside the tribe’s Vinita Health Center during a ceremony on Wednesday, May 29.
The historic partnership provides a VA clinic inside the Cherokee Nation Vinita Health Center for area veterans. The 1,300 square feet of leased space with a VA Primary Care Team serves both Native and non-Native veterans in the region.
When the closure of the former VA health clinic in Vinita was announced in 2021, the Cherokee Nation and VA quickly engaged to find a solution and close the gap. The VA clinic includes a waiting area, exam rooms, work areas, and parking and will work with the tribe’s Vinita Health Center to accomplish lab and x-ray services for seamless care.