Key Developments in Central Nevada Health District Progress

By Rachel Dahl

The Central Nevada Health District Board of Directors held its regular meeting last week to discuss and approve several housekeeping matters as they continue activities to set up the Health District and get it properly functioning.

A partnership with Verizon Wireless was approved to obtain State Vendor pricing. Sub-agreements with the State of Nevada, Department of Public and Behavioral Health were authorized; one for $32,998 to provide Chronic Disease Education, a second for $55,860 to provide abstinence education for youth, another for $84,189 for Substance Prevention, and lastly one for $42,528 for Influenza Vaccination for children.
Board members also approved an agreement between the district and Partnership Douglas County to address tobacco prevention control for $10,000.

The board approved the Fiscal Year 24 1st quarter fiscal report provided by Administrator Daren Winkelman.

Community Health Officer Tedd McDonald, MD, submitted a written statement to the board reporting on the current health alerts, including an increased rate of measles cases for 2023 related to an increase in international travel, tick bite prevention, and seasonal migration of rodents into human living spaces. He also summarized symptoms of Long COVID through the Centers for Disease Control. Twelve symptoms are included in the diagnosis of long-term COVID, and the diagnosis is currently based on a history of COVID infection and persistent symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, and change in taste and smell. More information can be found on the CDC website.

He also reported that CNHD staff had passed testing for in-house dispensing in the pharmacy, and the district is now certified for those services.
Clinic services at the Churchill, Mineral, and Pershing clinics are now underway, and the clinic staff will also be taking on complete tracking services of tuberculosis cases. 

Outreach events are planned and continue to be centered on community health and return-to-school events across the district.
Winkelman also presented an administrative update: the district continues to implement program initiatives and participate in community events across the four-county area. CNHD staff shadowed the Division of Public and Behavioral Health staff during the Burning Man event and will work with organizers to ensure a smooth transition for next year. Community Clinics are beginning to see more patients for a variety of services.

He also said the hiring of team members is a critical focus for the district, and interviews continue to be conducted with exceptional support operations staff recruited so far. Recent interviews were held for an epidemiologist who will begin work in late November. Sean Cridland has joined the team as an Environmental Health Specialist, Amber Lewis is a new Registered Nurse, and Krystal Babcock joined the team as support staff.

District member entities have so far funded the district with $511,5176. Other funding includes $333,333 from the Fund for Healthy Nevada and environmental health inspection permits of $14,000.
The CNHD  comprises the communities of Churchill County, the City of Fallon, Pershing County, Eureka County, and Mineral County. The board members are Chairman Ken Tedford, Vice Chair Cassie Hall, Larry Rackley, Denise Ferguson, Tyson McBride, Bob Erickson, Jeb Rowley, Rich McKay, Jim Barbee, Shannon Ernst, and Justin Heath. The board typically meets the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m.