Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital reports improved scores, capital projects and new behavioral‑health unit opening next week

Steve Simpson, administrator of Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, told the Elko County Board of Health on Thursday that several quality and capital metrics are trending positively and that the hospital expects to admit its first behavioral‑health patient next week. Simpson said patient satisfaction scores are holding steady and that provider communication scores are at their highest percentiles quarter‑to‑date. He reported a decline in employee turnover and steady or rising admissions and surgery volumes. “We are starting to see a little bit of an uptick in positive COVID‑positive patients,” he added, noting one short inpatient stay so far. Capital improvements and security: Simpson said the hospital has spent nearly $10 million on facility improvements in the last two years, with roughly $4 million year‑to‑date and about $5 million in identified capital projects this year, including MRI and X‑ray replacements and a back‑office information management upgrade planned for October. Simpson said the hospital is consolidating access codes and expanding badge‑swipe security to reduce security risks. Behavioral‑health unit (BHU): Simpson said the hospital has cleared a series of licensing and staffing hurdles and is “anticipating receiving [the] first patient on the 20 eighth, so next Thursday.” He said a state post‑construction survey and clerical license corrections delayed the opening earlier, and that the hospital used traveling nurses temporarily until staff recovered from illness. Simpson identified Dr. Jay (referred to as Dr. Janica), Jessica von Valkenburg, program director Cindy and intake coordinator Christian as key staff involved in the BHU launch. Community engagement and events: Simpson said hospital employees raised $13,775 for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and that hospital administration matched the amount for a total of $27,550. He also announced a drive‑through flu clinic scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, and emphasized free or discounted mammography screening for women 40 and older in the community. Discussion versus decision: the report was informational; no formal board action was taken.