Guaranteed Healthcare

By Donna Smith

ELY, Nev – While some of the stops on our RNs’ healthcare road show in Nevada have provided challenges in politically conservative areas from nervous or misinformed people and even local journalists, other stops have brought us in touch with those fellow care providers seeing the toughest of conditions and still trying to deliver quality care.  For the people of the Newe Medical Clinic and Ely Shoshone Health Department, a visit from the nurses’ educational tour bus was a gift of affirmation – a show of support and respect for shared mission.

The bus pulled up in front of the clinic shortly after noon when the warm fall sun made the rural and arid landscape seem even more stark and quiet.  The Nevada Nurses stepped off the bus and into the clinic set up in mobile trailers in a modest neighborhood of Ely, Nevada.  Inside the desks were full of literature and paperwork, while large rooms housed both conference tables for meetings and individual work areas.

The administrator welcomed the RNs and shared with them a bit about her difficulties and frustrations in working to provide services within an Indian Health Service budget that is underfunded.  She acknowledged that true healthcare reformed would relieve many of the pressures on not only the Native patient population but also the local employers who often cannot afford to provide healthcare benefits for employees or who pass along high premium costs to folks making modest wages that must stretch to cover family costs.