Cherokee Nation breaks ground on new Claremore outpatient, emergency health center

The Cherokee Nation held a groundbreaking Tuesday, Aug. 18 for a new Claremore Outpatient and Emergency Health Center, replacing the current Claremore health center and expanding care across the Claremore service area. The project is funded entirely with Cherokee Nation general funds, without borrowing or federal funding, and will be built on Scissortail Boulevard near Highway 66 and West Country Club Road in Claremore. The $400 million, 400,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in summer 2029 and is designed to allow a future inpatient unit on the site. Once operating, it is expected to employ about 750 people, nearly double the 375 full-time workers at the current facility. Cherokee Nation took over operations of the former Claremore Indian Hospital from the federal Indian Health Service in October 2025.