New Veteran's Administration Hospital Planned For Tulsa

The Veteran's Administration broke ground Friday on the new Ernest Childers Health Care Center. Workers are clearing 22 acres near 91st and Mingo for the $96 million building.

It's just across from Hillcrest South and will be a new central location for VA health care in Tulsa.

The Congressional backers of the new clinic were behind the shovels for the groundbreaking. It's the start of a major expansion of healthcare options for Tulsa's veterans.

The building will have 140,000 square feet of space for medical care, a women's clinic for the first time, and space for outpatient surgery.

The work done in three clinics, will move into one, larger building - with more than 900 parking spaces.

"As we look to the future, we want look at being able to provide increased healthcare for our veterans, of all generations," said Mark Morgan, director of Eastern Oklahoma VA Healthcare.

The expansion allows Tulsa-area veterans to get most of their health care in one stop. Veterans needing surgery and staying overnight will still go to Muskogee.

The clinic, says Senator Jim Inhofe, will help improve the care the VA can offer.

"These people have fought, many died for our country, and veterans who are out there need treatment and health care. They deserve it, and they haven't been getting it," said Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma.

The building is named for Ernest Childers - the Creek Indian Army Lieutenant awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II. 

Elaine Childers is his daughter.

"I know he would very thrilled and humbled to know that a place of this magnitude was being named after him," she said.

In Tulsa - 1,000 veterans a day have appointments with the existing VA clinics. Once all the services are under one roof - the VA expects even more veterans will take advantage of the service.

Construction will take two years with the opening planned for the summer of 2021. The other VA patient clinics in Tulsa, will close.