Organization

A tribe, a government and a business organization, the present structure of the Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) has evolved under the influence of both federal and tribal leadership.

In order to see how the organization had developed, one must understand the historical development of the Indian Health Services (IHS), the tribal government, and tribal Health Service in particular. Subsequent pages such as the "Abbreviated chronology," "Tribal Jurisdictional Service Area," and "Area Office" all provide partinent details on the subject. They relate information which will give the reader a better understanding of how the Cherokee Nation Health Service became responsible for Indian Health Care in this geographic location, and they sort out the complexities of a vast and comprehensive health care system.