Meade County has approved a contract with National Medical Resources, Inc. to bring a nurse practitioner to the county jail, aiming to replace medical services long provided by the Sturgis Ambulance Service.
The county commission signed the agreement Jan. 13. Under the deal, NMR will supply certified medical providers, including physicians and mid‑level practitioners, at a cost of $19,000 per month for a 40‑hour work week. Overtime will be billed at $145 per hour. The county hopes to have a nurse practitioner in place before its temporary extension with Sturgis ends in February.
Sturgis notified the county in late 2025 that it would not renew its long‑standing contract to staff the jail. Commissioner Doreen Creed said NMR already provides medical services for the North Dakota prison system and will also continue supplying a physician to the jail as needed.
Nurses currently working at the jail warned commissioners that one provider will not be enough. Registered nurse Heidi Raftevold said the workload resembles an emergency room, with late‑night and weekend calls, and that hiring only one practitioner would be unrealistic. She and part‑time nurse Randee Goetsch urged the county to staff both a provider and a nurse to avoid costly hospital transports and maintain continuity of care.
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