The Osage Nation envisions a strong, culturally-sensitive healthcare system that will transform the health of the communities we serve and provide Native American families with healthcare they can rely on. All tribes are welcome.
Direct services are available to all eligible Native Americans and referred care is allowable to those residing within the Osage Nation Reservation, Kay, Grant, Noble, Payne and Garfield Counties.
The Wahzhazhe Health Center is dedicated to promoting a culture of continuous Quality and Performance Improvement. It is the goal of the Wahzhazhe Health Center to always provide optimal care and services to the patients we proudly serve.
Osage Nation Health System Celebrates First BC-ADM-Certified Provider! The Osage Nation Health System is proud to congratulate Amy Foster, ACNP, CNN-NP, CDCES, BC-ADM, on earning her Board Certified–Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM®) credential, making her the first and currently the only BC-ADM-certified provider in the Osage Nation Health System.The BC-ADM credential is one of the most advanced certifications available in diabetes management. It is reserved for experienced advanced practice clinicians who meet stringent eligibility requirements, demonstrate extensive experience managing complex diabetes cases, and successfully pass a rigorous national board certification examination. Candidates must have advanced clinical training and hundreds of hours of direct experience providing advanced diabetes management before they are even eligible to sit for the examination.Amy's accomplishment is especially noteworthy because she now holds an extraordinary combination of nationally recognized credentials:• ACNP – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner• CNN-NP – Certified Nephrology Nurse–Nurse Practitioner• CDCES – Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist• BC-ADM – Board Certified–Advanced Diabetes ManagementVery few clinicians possess this combination of advanced certifications. While nearly 20,000 healthcare professionals nationwide hold the CDCES credential, the BC-ADM designation is earned by a much smaller group of advanced practice providers who specialize in managing the most complex aspects of diabetes care. In a recent national survey of diabetes care professionals, only about 11% reported holding the BC-ADM credential, highlighting just how uncommon this achievement is.Amy's expertise benefits patients throughout the Osage Nation Health System every day. She serves as the primary provider for many of our patients with diabetes while also caring for patients with kidney disease through the Nephrology Clinic. Because diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease, her specialized expertise in both nephrology and advanced diabetes management allows patients to receive comprehensive, coordinated care from a highly qualified clinician.This achievement represents more than another credential after Amy's name; it reflects an ongoing commitment to clinical excellence, lifelong learning, and providing the highest standard of evidence-based care. Having the first and only BC-ADM-certified provider within the Osage Nation Health System demonstrates our organization's continued investment in bringing advanced specialty care to the communities we serve.Please join us in congratulating Amy Foster on this remarkable professional accomplishment. Her dedication and expertise continue to strengthen the Osage Nation Health System and improve the lives of the patients and families who entrust us with their care.
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In this edition of Employee Spotlight, we're honored to introduce Chris A. Larkin, Executive Director of the Osage Nation Counseling Center. Chris brings decades of executive healthcare leadership, military service, and a passion for serving others to the Osage Nation Health System. His extensive experience and commitment to excellence continue to strengthen our organization, and we're proud to have him leading one of our most important programs. As mentioned, Chris A. Larkin currently serves as Executive Director of the Osage Nation Counseling Center in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. He previously served as CEO/Executive Director of the Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health Authority, Inc. (ASTHA), located in Shawnee and Norman, Oklahoma, where he became the first to implement the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program in an Oklahoma Tribal health facility, helping maximize resources that expand patient services and improve access to care. Before becoming Executive Director, Mr. Larkin served as Health Compliance Officer. Prior to joining the AST Health System in 2014, he served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of three Oklahoma hospitals and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of two others. Mr. Larkin has demonstrated leadership across for-profit, nonprofit, military, Tribal, and critical access healthcare organizations. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and is Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) through the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). He holds a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern State University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He also served 14 years in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel as a Senior Health Services Administrator with the 507th Air Refueling Wing. Mr. Larkin is from southeastern Oklahoma and has five children and seven grandchildren.
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