Commissioners approve $940,000 contract to establish 24-hour nursing at Clark County Jail

The Board of Clark County Commissioners voted April 22 to authorize a $940,000 contract with TEAMHealth / Premier Physician Services Inc. to provide jail medical and nursing services from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029. Commissioner Charles A. Patterson moved the resolution; the vote recorded Commissioners Richard L. Lohnes, Charles A. Patterson and Sasha L. Rittenhouse as voting Yes.

Dave Perks, speaking for the Sheriff’s Office during the agenda review, said the county has faced a nursing staff shortage and that the contract is for full-time nursing staff. "This will be the first time the jail will have 24-hour nursing coverage, which will alleviate some of the hospital visits in the middle of the night," Perks said. Sheriff Chris Clark said the arrangement should reduce liability by allowing more care inside the jail and described an embedded medication enhanced therapy program TEAMHealth would operate to help reduce recidivism.

Sheriff Clark said most of the funding will come from jail payroll expenditures and will be supplemented with commissary funds to provide third-shift coverage, noting inmates will partially fund that coverage through commissary charges. The sheriff also cited a local recidivism rate of about 32.5%, saying improved in-jail treatment could reduce returns to custody. The board and sheriff characterized the contract as budget-neutral for the commission while providing continuous on-site nursing.

The board record lists the resolution as Resolution 2026-0316. The contract was presented as part of the Sheriff’s Office packet and will be executed by the County Administrator under the authorization approved by the board. Commissioners said they appreciate efforts to improve public safety and inmate care and signaled follow-up oversight on program outcomes.