Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
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TAHLEQUAH, OK - Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma's (CNO) new executive director for the Health Services Division embodies knowledge and experience. Mim Dixon, who officially began duty with the tribe on July 1, has experience with the Indian health care system in Alaska and as a policy analyst for the Indian Health Board. Dixon is buoyant in her enthusiasm to impact the tribal health service.

"I want to hear about your problems and learn what we can do to support you in the real work of the tribe," Dixon told employees of the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center in Stilwell last Friday. She said she believes the work of all tribal health employees to be serving our patients.

In her first week, Dixon has made it a priority to meet other Cherokee Nation health care professionals. At the Stilwell clinic, Dixon told clinic employees she had participated in three reviews by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) while working with the Indian health care system in Alaska. "It is not something you can do at the last minute," said Dixon. She said she hoped the preparation currently underway for the pending review of the Cherokee Nation's ambulatory clinics would be "a fun way to measure what we are doing against other clinics across the country."

An interest in people, as evidenced by both her education and work experience, is at the core of Dixon's approach to problem solving. She said she is excited to be a part of planning for good things to happen in the Cherokee Nation in the next decade, referring to both the JCAHO review and the organizational redesign being spearheaded by First Nation's Institute as "big picture things" that should not distract employees from their work.

"I think the outcome of the redesign will be to reduce frustrations in our daily work so we can be more productive", Dixon said. She said it is good work we do when we bring quality health care to our patients, adding, "I think that is what we are all here for-to make a difference in the world."