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Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital expects first behavioral-health patient next week after licensing and staffing hurdles
Summary
Hospital administrator Steve Simpson told the board the hospital expects to admit its first behavioral health unit patient on the 28th after resolving a state survey requirement, a licensing clerical error and a temporary staff loss; travel nurses have filled staffing gaps until permanent staff return.
Steve Simpson, administrator of Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, said the hospital anticipates receiving its first behavioral-health unit (BHU) patient on the 28th. "We are anticipating receiving 1st patient on the 28th," Simpson said, and described several obstacles the hospital overcame, including completion of a required state post-construction survey, a clerical licensing error that temporarily reduced the licensed bed count, and a nursing staff emergency that required use of travel nurses.
Simpson said the BHU will be staffed by a board-certified psychiatrist ("doctor Jay"), an intake coordinator and an experienced program director and that the hospital will celebrate the operational start while maintaining patient privacy protections. He agreed to prepare a written account of the regulatory and operational hurdles for the board and said the hospital has taken steps to ensure continuity of care while opening the unit.
