Cherokee Nation officials are placing an emphasis on safety in the design and construction of a new hospital in Tahlequah, Okla. Modifications to the tribe’s existing plans for the $60 million facility enhance its ability to withstand severe weather, according to an article on the Cherokee Nation website.

Members of the tribe’s construction management team recently met with construction crews at the site of Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo., to gain insights on the construction of its new facility. The Joplin hospital is being rebuilt after being damaged by a tornado in May 2011.

“If we’ve learned anything from what we saw in Joplin, it’s that a community hospital is the primary point of physical and mental care in these epic emergency situations. We must make every effort to ensure our hospital will be able to meet the needs of our community and our citizens in a potential crisis,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker. 

An additional $7.5 million was added to the hospital’s construction budget to incorporate the new safety measures.

“Even if the cost is a little more in the construction, we know we are making an investment for our people for the next 60 to 70 years,” said Baker.

Read the article.