WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE JAIL MEDICAL RECORDS CONTRACT, PAY ASSIGNMENTS

  

Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) approved an electronic jail medical records contract with CorEMR and pay rate assignments for jail medical staff as part of the county’s shift to a new medical services provider.

The items are in relation to the county’s transition to MedHealth as the provider of medical services at the jail, after having worked with CorrHealth since 2021.

Jail Chief Deputy Eric Hensley called the transition seamless, saying the county was able to retain full medical coverage and documents without any hiccups.  He said CorEMR, who provided medical record services while the county was under contract with CorrHealth, agreed to keep the system up during the transition to MedHealth despite the records contract being tabled from the court’s meeting on Thursday.

One reason that the contract with CorEMR was tabled last week was a proposed indemnity provision that would have required the county to indemnify the service provider, but the county typically does not recommend contracts with those provisions.  County Judge John Durrenberger said since the county now has liability insurance, the company was ok with doing away with the indemnity clause.

Through the contract with MedHealth, the company provides the jail medical director and nurse practitioner, while the county provides a health services administrator, two correctional licensed vocational nurses and an emergency medical technician. 

The employees being hired for the county’s roles came in on a contingency basis, as they were offered their pay rates based on the understanding that commissioners would need to approve them first.  Commissioner Candice Bullock said this is because county policy requires court approval for any salaries above 6 percent over the minimum salary. 

Bullock added that after conducting interviews for the positions, the county is retaining the existing staff from CorrHealth, so this action was to get the county up to the level of pay the employees received from CorrHealth.

Bullock said the county has continued to attempt to get employees up to the proper market salary range, and that includes placing new employees at where they should be based on their weighted experience, not just starting them out at the minimum.  Human Resources Director Angela Mlcak said the county still has work it needs to do on its pay ranges and processes, with Commissioner Kirk Hanath replying that it works out given that the county is soon going into budget discussions.

In other business, commissioners:

• Received the Office of Emergency Management’s quarterly report.  Emergency Management Coordinator Bryan Ruemke said the county is receiving reimbursement from the state for the water rescue deployments earlier this year.  He also said he is working on submitting for assistance with the straight-line winds the county experienced on May 16^th.
• Heard a presentation from the Faith Mission SMART-CARE Kids program. 
• Approved the 2024 Chappell Hill 4^th of July parade permit application.
• Approved a new bond for Jacob Newsome as reserve deputy sheriff.
• Discussed a formal notice for fiber installation by Industry Telephone Company in the Jaeger Road right-of-way in Precinct 4.  No action was needed.
• Discussed formal notices for overhead electric line installation by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative in the right-of-way of Quebe Road in Precinct 3 and Upshaw Road in Precinct 4.  No action was necessary.