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"A new respiratory department at Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital helps patients with breathing treatments and other care." TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - The Cherokee Nation is celebrating a very special Respiratory Therapy Care Week this year. The tribe’s W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah recently developed a new department for respiratory care. “Our department is only five months old,” said Richard Smith, Respiratory Supervisor for Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital. “In that short amount of time, we are already averaging between 15 and 20 patients per day, and we expect to be seeing two or three times that many patients in the next six months.” Currently, the department offers oxygen therapy treatments, ventilator care, BiPAP and CPAP, chest physiotherapy and pulmonary function studies. Soon the department will begin offering sleep studies, as well. The new department allows nurses to focus more on patient care, which benefits the patients. In addition, with the addition of the new diagnostic equipment, patients will no longer need to receive these studies and assistance in other facilities. The department will also be teaming with other programs in Cherokee Nation Health Services to discuss the importance of exercise and keeping lungs healthy. “We’re a small but rapidly growing department,” Smith said. “We are glad to be here to assist our patients in a full time care facility.” National Respiratory Care Week, an annual event that recognizes the work of respiratory therapists and the importance of lung health, is set for October 25-31. Sponsored by the American Association for Respiratory Care, this year's theme is Respiratory Care: There When You Need Us.” For more information on respiratory therapy and care, call Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Hospital, phone: 918-458-36100 (ext.5113).

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org