Our History

The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, through the efforts of the Menominee Restoration Committee and the Menominee County Board of Supervisors, was successful in its quest for Congressional and Hill-Burton funds to construct the first Indian owned and operated health facility in the United States in 1977. The Menominee Restoration Committee, acting on behalf of the Menominee Tribe, joined the Menominee County Board of Supervisors in the planning and building of this clinic in the true spirit of self determination and cooperation.

The Menominee Clinic serves the total health care needs of the Menominees and is a milestone in the exercise of Indian Self Determination.

The Clinic received accreditation in 1989, and has maintained our accreditation status over the past 27 years; with accreditation currently through Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Accreditation demonstrates the Clinic’s commitment to providing high quality care to our community.

The mission of the Menominee Tribal Clinic is to provide quality, accessible and comprehensive health services in the area of medical, dental, and community health services. We serve approximately 4,000 eligible Indians and have approximately 8,500 active medical charts. The Clinic employes over 140 individuals in the various programs it operates.

The health status of our community remains poor, as we are ranked (last) 72nd healthiest of 72 counties in Wisconsin. Some of the challenges include 44% of people who smoke; 50% overweight and obese; 45% binge drink; and low socio-economic status – 40.5% of the Menominee American Indian population had a household income under $25,000

The Clinic’s health priorities include: Maintain the current level of primary health care services that have been developed over the last 10-15 years; Medical access has improved with the addition of a seventh M.D.; Dental has maintained a staffing plan of six (6) full dentists and three (3) hygienists, and one (1) fulltime pediatric Dentist; Optical has improved access with two (2) full time optometrists along with 3 full time assistants ,the development of same day appointment; Contract Health care continues to strain the budget at the clinic as IHS funding is not adequate to meet Priority I level of care.

Services the Menominee Tribal Clinic Provides:

• Primary medical care including acute care triage system
• Full range of dentistry services from teeth cleaning and preventive care to filings, dentures and other work to restore teeth
• Optometry services include eye examinations, emergency eye care, glasses and contact lenses.
• Behavioral health services offer outpatient services by providing evaluations, assessments and pyschotherapy services
• Pharmacy
• Radiology
• Laboratory
• Physical Therapy
• Emergency Medical Care
• Nutrition/WIC
• Community Health Nursing Services
• Health Education
  • Wellness
  • Special Diabetes Program for Native Americans
  • Diabetes Prevention Program
  • Women’s Personal Health
• Public Health Outreach Programs
  • Immunization Programs
  • Health Fairs
  • TB Testing
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Optometry Testing
  • Menominee AIDS Project

News Article Archives:

• Clinic Celebrates 20th Anniversary
• Clinic Undergoing 3rd Expansion
• Jerry Waukau Dedicated as Menominee Tribal Clinic Administrator
• Clinic Celebrates 2nd Expansion
• Clinic Celebrates 10th Anniversary with 1rst expansion
• Lithuanian exchange students impressed with Menominee Tribal Clinic
• Clinic’s First Doctor – Dr. Michael Reinardy

Awards:

2015 RWJF Culture of Health Prize Winner Video