NEK Multi-County Health honored by the state

The Northeast Kansas (NEK) Multi-County Health Department has been recognized by the state as a positive example of how counties can work together to deliver public health services effectively and efficiently, it has been reported.

The NEK Multi-County Health Department, which is a collaboration between Jackson, Brown and Atchison counties, has been featured in a case study by the Kansas Health Institute in order to encourage other counties to work together for health services, according to Kristin Watkins, CEO of NEK Multi-County Health.

“They worked on this case study for six to eights months after they contacted us,” Watkins said. “The state wanted to figure out what makes this partnership so successful because they want other counties to team up or question if its something they can do with neighboring counties”

NEK Multi-County Health was established on July 1, 1972, and at that time, included Jackson, Brown, Atchison and Doniphan counties. 

The two main goals for the combined health departments were to provide public health services the communities needed and to pool populations and resources in order to compete with larger counties for grants, according to the case study.

One year after the formation of the NEK Multi-County Health Department, Doniphan County left.     

Currently, NEK Multi-County Health operates as a single agency, but provides public health services in each county. It also operates a home health agency, which is located in Hiawatha and serves all three counties. The arrangement allows the counties to share one administrator and one accountant between all four locations. 

According to the case study, the counties receive many benefits by offering public health services through this sharing arrangement, such as staffing efficiencies, a revenue stream from the home health agency (which contributes to the financial stability of the entire health department) and moral support among peers from different counties. 

Watkins said that combining health department services in different counties is becoming “more and more common.”

“It’s more difficult in western counties because they incur a lot more travel costs,” she said. 

Some of the challenges faced by multi-county health, according to the case study, include frequent turnover in the CEO position, variations in funding for state-funded programs and miscommunication between sites. 

As part of the four-page case study report, state workers interviewed Watkins, other health department employees, county commissioners and community members.

“They really talked to everyone to get their perspective,” she said. “They did a good job and were very thorough.”

The NEK Multi-County Health Department Board of Directors is made up of nine members, including three people from each county (one health care provider, one county commissioner and one health care consumer). The board meets quarterly and is in charge of the budget, programs and personnel decisions. 

“We have lot of stakeholders invested in the health department, and we have a diverse board, which helps make us successful,” she said. 

Watkins said one of the keys to the successful collaboration is the dedication of staff members, who are willing to adapt and grow to help all the communities.

“I’ve been here a year, but I knew this agency was reputable,” Watkins said. “Everyone that has invested their time and energies into this partnership has been very flattered to be recognized. They deserve it.” 

To view the four-page case study, click on the .pdf file below.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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