Osage Nation Health System

10/15/2026

GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY
Clean hands. Healthier communities.

October 15 is Global Handwashing Day - a reminder that one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and others is to wash your hands properly and often.

When should you wash your hands?
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating or feeding others
• After using the restroom
• After changing diapers
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
• After caring for someone who is sick
• After touching animals, pet food, or animal waste
• After handling garbage
• Whenever your hands are visibly dirty

5 STEPS FOR CLEAN HANDS

Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Lather with soap—cover the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse well under clean, running water.
Dry with a clean towel or air dryer.

No soap and water?
Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol when soap and water aren't available.

WHAT DOES HANDWASHING HELP PREVENT?

Good hand hygiene can help reduce the spread of germs that cause illnesses such as:
• Colds and respiratory infections
• Influenza (flu)
• COVID-19
• Norovirus and other stomach illnesses
• Foodborne illnesses
• Pink eye
• Certain skin infections

A few seconds of handwashing can make a big difference.
Protect yourself. Protect your family. Protect your community.

10/15/2026

THE OCTOBER 2026 OSAGE HEALTH NEWSLETTER IS HERE!

Fall is here, and so is another edition of the Osage Nation Health System (ONHS) newsletter!

This month's issue features community celebrations, employee spotlights, health and wellness information, and upcoming events.

Inside this month's issue:
*Record-breaking Buffalo Run 5K with 102 finishers!
*Highlights from our 3rd Annual CHR Health Fair and Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic.
*Celebrating culture and community at the ONHS Wellness Powwow.
*Meet the People Behind the Care: Kadee Crawford and Bridget Walker.
*National Dental Hygiene Month and American Pharmacists Month.
*Domestic Violence Awareness Month and community resources.
*SIDS Awareness Month and safe sleep recommendations.

Upcoming ONHS events, announcements, and more!

READ THE FULL OCTOBER NEWSLETTER HERE:

https://osagehealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Newsletter-October-2026-8.5-x-11-in-1.pdf

Stay connected, stay informed, and see how ONHS continues to make a difference in our communities' health and well-being.

10/14/2026

🌟 ONHS Employee Spotlight: Crystal Standing Bear, LPN!

This week, we're proud to spotlight Crystal Standing Bear, Nurse Manager at the Osage Nation Health System! For nearly 30 years, she has dedicated her career to nursing, community health, and serving Native communities. As Nurse Manager at the Osage Nation Health System (ONHS), she brings extensive experience in clinical care, public health, and healthcare leadership, along with a deep personal commitment to the Osage people.

An Osage Nation member of the Golden Eagle Clan, Big Hill Band, from the Grayhorse District, Crystal has spent nearly 20 years serving her community through various healthcare roles. Before becoming Nurse Manager in August 2025, she served more than 15 years as Director of Community Health for the Osage Nation. Her professional background also includes nursing with the Indian Health Service and Cherokee Nation, home health, nonprofit administration, and grants management.

In her current role, Crystal oversees daily nursing operations, supports staff development, coordinates patient care, and strengthens quality and safety throughout the medical clinic. She believes effective leadership begins with listening, accountability, and ensuring both patients and staff feel respected and supported.

"Serving my community means honoring where I come from. Being Osage and from Grayhorse, our ways are tied into every part of my daily life," Crystal shared.

A Licensed Practical Nurse since 1996, Crystal is continuing her education at Oklahoma State University, pursuing a degree in Healthcare Administration. Her dedication to leadership and service earned her a Special Leadership Award in October 2025.

Outside of work, Crystal enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, participating in Grayhorse cultural activities, learning Osage history, and practicing traditional skills such as finger weaving. She values her elders' teachings and hopes to pass those traditions and responsibilities on to her daughters.

For Crystal, healthcare is more than a profession. It is an opportunity to honor her heritage, advocate for her people, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families.

"I want our patients and families to know that their voices matter and that they deserve care that respects who they are," she shared.

Her approach to leadership reflects a simple but powerful commitment: "I lead with respect, listen with care, and advocate for quality and safety for both our patients and the staff who serve them."

ONHS proudly recognizes Crystal for her dedication to nursing, leadership, and continued service to the Osage Nation community.

10/10/2026

🏃‍♂️🦬 RECORD TURNOUT FOR THE 2026 BUFFALO RUN 5K! 🦬🏃‍♀️
What an incredible morning at Osage Hills State Park!

The Osage Nation Health System Diabetes Program is proud to celebrate another successful Buffalo Run 5K, held Saturday, October 10, 2026, with a record-breaking 102 participants who showed up and completed the race! 🎉

Our dedicated ONHS staff were hard at work as early as 5:30 a.m., preparing for the event and ensuring everything was ready for our runners. Their teamwork, commitment, and willingness to go above and beyond helped make this year's Buffalo Run a tremendous success. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work!

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR OVERALL WINNERS!
🥇 Male Division
1st Place: Elijah Burchett (15) — 18:36
2nd Place: Logan Barnes (18) — 18:36
3rd Place: Jakob Williams (34) — 19:16
🥇 Female Division
1st Place: Fallon Washington (12) — 24:03
2nd Place: Lily Eagle Elk (32) — 24:12
3rd Place: Katie Wilson (43) — 24:17
Our overall winners received cash prizes of $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd place!

🌟 A SPECIAL RECOGNITION!
We also want to recognize Deanna Hardy, our oldest finisher at 84 years young! Deanna was our 101st finisher, demonstrating that age is no barrier to staying active and embracing a healthy lifestyle. What an inspiration!

💜 A COMMUNITY EFFORT WORTH CELEBRATING!

Events like the Buffalo Run are made possible through the dedication and generosity of so many individuals and organizations. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to:
🚔 Osage Nation Police Department (ONPD) for providing traffic control and helping keep our participants safe throughout the event.
💧 Osage Casinos for generously donating all the water for our runners.
💧 Community Health Representatives (CHR) for staffing the halfway water station and keeping participants hydrated along the course.
🎁 Osage Nation Prevention Program for providing every participant with an "Increase Your Peace" box, sharing an additional message of wellness and prevention.
👏 Our ONHS Diabetes Program and supporting staff for their early morning preparations, coordination, and countless hours of work that made this event possible.

And most importantly, THANK YOU to all 102 participants! Whether you were racing for a personal best, challenging yourself, or simply enjoying a morning of physical activity, you helped make this year's Buffalo Run one to remember.

The Buffalo Run is about more than crossing a finish line. It's about encouraging healthy lifestyles, promoting diabetes prevention, and bringing our community together through physical activity.

Congratulations to every finisher, and thank you for making the 2026 Buffalo Run 5K a record-breaking success! 🦬💜 (please note: more pictures of the winners and participants to come)

10/09/2026

💉💙 TWO EVENTS. ONE COMMUNITY. 75 FLU VACCINATIONS! 💙💉

The Osage Nation Health System Administration would like to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible staff for making both our 3rd Annual Health Fair and Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic such a success!

Together, 75 flu vaccinations were administered across both events:
🩺 30 vaccinations at the Health Fair
🚗 45 vaccinations at the Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic, including 6 children!

We are incredibly impressed by the success of these events and proud of the teamwork, dedication, and community spirit our staff demonstrated to make them happen. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, energy, and talents to bring these opportunities to our community!

💙 To everyone who received a flu vaccine: thank you! By taking steps to protect your health, you also help protect those around you, including infants, older adults, and people with health conditions who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.

Getting vaccinated is one important way we can look out for one another and help keep our families and communities healthier throughout flu season.

👏 Thank you to our hardworking ONHS staff, our community partners, and every community member who participated. Your commitment to health and wellness makes a difference!

This is our Culture of Caring in action! 💙

10/09/2026

💜 THAT’S A WRAP! THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR 3RD ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR A SUCCESS! 💜

The Osage Nation Health System extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make our 3rd Annual Health Fair a success! 🩺💚

We welcomed more than 270 community members, with attendance estimated at nearly 300 people! We’re grateful for everyone who took the time to stop by, connect with local resources, learn about available services, and prioritize their health and wellness.

💉 The Osage County Health Department administered 30 flu vaccinations, helping protect our community as we head into flu season!

A special thank-you goes to all the departments, organizations, vendors, healthcare professionals, and community partners who showed up to share their time, knowledge, services, and resources. Your participation helps strengthen connections and makes valuable health information more accessible to the people we serve.

And, of course, thank you to our community for your continued support! You consistently show up for our events, and we appreciate the trust, participation, and encouragement you give us. Events like this remind us what we can accomplish when we come together for our community's health and well-being.

From everyone at ONHS, thank you for being part of our Culture of Caring. We couldn’t do it without you! 💜

10/09/2026

💜 NATIVE COMMUNITIES. STRONG FAMILIES. SAFE HOMES.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Osage Nation Health System recognizes the importance of culturally responsive support for Native survivors, families, and communities.

Tribal domestic violence programs can connect individuals with advocacy, crisis support, safety planning, referrals, and other services. Available services and eligibility vary by program.

Looking for a tribal resource in Oklahoma?

The Native Alliance Against Violence maintains a directory of tribal domestic violence and sexual assault programs serving communities throughout the state.

💜 Find tribal resources:
https://oknaav.org/tribalprograms

Additional support is available:

• Osage Nation Family Violence Prevention: 539.212.2411
24/7 crisis line: 866.897.4747

• StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1.844.762.8483
strongheartshelpline.org

• Oklahoma Safeline: 1.800.522.7233

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1.800.799.7233

Domestic violence is not a personal failure, and survivors should never be blamed for the abuse they experience. Healing begins with support, safety, and knowing no one has to face this alone.

Let’s keep breaking the silence, strengthening our communities, and supporting survivors with compassion and respect.

💜 Osage Nation Health System
Culture of Caring

Contact information for Oklahoma's tribal domestic violence and sexual assault programs

10/07/2026

HOLIDAY CLOSURE - OSAGE DAY

In observance of Osage Day, the Osage Nation Health System (ONHS) will be closed on:

📅 Monday, October 12, 2026

This closure includes Wahzhazhe Health Center, the Counseling Center, grant programs, and Title VI Elder Nutrition.

💊 Please request medication refills in advance.

ONHS facilities will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, October 13.

For questions, please contact:
Wahzhazhe Health Center: 918.287.9300
Pharmacy: 918.287.9373

Please share this reminder with family and friends who may need ONHS services. ❤️