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FALLON - Churchill County Commissioners approved an inter-local contract with the Nevada State Health Division for the Community Health Nurse Program after approximately six months of miscommunication and negotiations.
Shannon Ernst, Churchill County Social Services director, said the county doesn't want to lose the health nurse services, which offers generalized health services like community health assessments and education and preventative health clinics in schools, homes and other settings.
“I couldn't imagine where we would get that if they were not here,” Ernst said.
Ernst said issues began in May when the NSHD informed her via letter of a need for a 13.4 percent payment increase without stating clear reasons why.
Ernst said not only was the brevity an issue but also the county's budget planning happens in Nov.-Dec. Ernst said NSHD official had told her at that time, they wouldn't need significant contractual changes.
Then, in August, NSHD sent a proposed contract, but without an explanation of the work to be provided. Ernst said her attempts to contact the state were not answered.
“I had no scope of work, I had not received a response from the state, and I had no time to work on it,” Ernst said.
Commissioners agreed to not approve the contract and continue paying the old rate until the matter was resolved. Ernst said this caused several problems including threats by the state to shut down the Community Health Nurse Program.
Ernst said she took the matter to the Nevada Association of County Organizations where she learned Churchill County's situation was not unique.
“It brought that awareness to all the other counties,” Ernst said. “Everyone is having these issues.”
She said NACO Director Jeff Fontaine contacted the NSHD to voice the association's dilemmas.
“NACO is very powerful within the state for voicing county concerns,” Ernst said. “They work with all of the counties to become one voice.”
Ernst said she believes the disorganization and miscommunications were related to changes occurring at the state office.
“They're restructuring that whole department, and it (restructuring) has happened a couple different times,” Ernst said.
With the help of NACO, Ernst said their problems were slowly resolved. NSHD has provided Social Services with a new point of contact, an agreement to negotiate contracts during the county's budgeting period, along with a detailed contract that only requests an 8.6 percent payment increase.
“It has been great because it has opened up the doors at the state level,” Ernst said.
Ernst said the state will also deal with staff deficiencies occurring over the past several years.
“We've been down a supervisor. We didn't have a nurse supervisor here for two years,” Ernst said. “They are trying to fill that position.”
With the issues resolved, the commissioners approved the new contract for the fiscal year 2010-2011 for a total of $221,524.39 and retroactive payment increases from July 1, 2009.
“I believe the administration understands the issues we've had. We understand the issues they've had and how to better communicate with them,” Ernst said. “Hopefully we can keep a good working relationship.”
Shannon Ernst, Churchill County Social Services director, said the county doesn't want to lose the health nurse services, which offers generalized health services like community health assessments and education and preventative health clinics in schools, homes and other settings.
“I couldn't imagine where we would get that if they were not here,” Ernst said.
Ernst said issues began in May when the NSHD informed her via letter of a need for a 13.4 percent payment increase without stating clear reasons why.
Ernst said not only was the brevity an issue but also the county's budget planning happens in Nov.-Dec. Ernst said NSHD official had told her at that time, they wouldn't need significant contractual changes.
Then, in August, NSHD sent a proposed contract, but without an explanation of the work to be provided. Ernst said her attempts to contact the state were not answered.
“I had no scope of work, I had not received a response from the state, and I had no time to work on it,” Ernst said.
Commissioners agreed to not approve the contract and continue paying the old rate until the matter was resolved. Ernst said this caused several problems including threats by the state to shut down the Community Health Nurse Program.
Ernst said she took the matter to the Nevada Association of County Organizations where she learned Churchill County's situation was not unique.
“It brought that awareness to all the other counties,” Ernst said. “Everyone is having these issues.”
She said NACO Director Jeff Fontaine contacted the NSHD to voice the association's dilemmas.
“NACO is very powerful within the state for voicing county concerns,” Ernst said. “They work with all of the counties to become one voice.”
Ernst said she believes the disorganization and miscommunications were related to changes occurring at the state office.
“They're restructuring that whole department, and it (restructuring) has happened a couple different times,” Ernst said.
With the help of NACO, Ernst said their problems were slowly resolved. NSHD has provided Social Services with a new point of contact, an agreement to negotiate contracts during the county's budgeting period, along with a detailed contract that only requests an 8.6 percent payment increase.
“It has been great because it has opened up the doors at the state level,” Ernst said.
Ernst said the state will also deal with staff deficiencies occurring over the past several years.
“We've been down a supervisor. We didn't have a nurse supervisor here for two years,” Ernst said. “They are trying to fill that position.”
With the issues resolved, the commissioners approved the new contract for the fiscal year 2010-2011 for a total of $221,524.39 and retroactive payment increases from July 1, 2009.
“I believe the administration understands the issues we've had. We understand the issues they've had and how to better communicate with them,” Ernst said. “Hopefully we can keep a good working relationship.”
