Study calls for more health-care education

Art Nadler

Monday, Dec. 7, 1998 | 11:10 a.m.

Gov.-elect Kenny Guinn's mandate to cut funding for state programs could throw a wrench in a newly released study recommending that more be spent to improve health-care education in Nevada.

The Health Care Education Committee of the University and Community College System of Nevada was presented with the study Friday. It found that there were no overly crowded health-care fields in the state.

The study of 34 health-care categories was begun July 1 and conducted by Dr. John Packham, a state health-care planning and research coordinator. The study found that public demand for most positions will more than double by 2006.

Packham showed, for example, that 16,660 registered nurses will be needed by 2006, a sharp increase over the 9,983 employed in 1996.

Projections show that the 955 pharmacists in 1996 will have to be increased to 1,697 in 2006, and 1,126 dental hygienists will be required in seven years, up from 894 in 1996.

"I've never seen a state study that didn't call for education cuts, but that is not the case here," said Jane Nichols, vice chancellor at the university and college system.

The study, while calling for more spending for higher education programs at UNLV, the University of Nevada, Reno, and the state's four community colleges, flies in the face of what Guinn is planning.

The governor-elect said he will not raise taxes to reach a $3.1 billion balanced budget for 1999-2001. Guinn said he wants to protect public schools and the university and community college systems, but kindergarten through 12th grade will be his priorities.

"I hope he (Guinn) has some conversations with us before we start slashing," said Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas. "There were 7,500 people who moved into Clark County last month. That's growth you can't ignore."

Rawson, who is chairman of the Legislature's Human Resources and Facilities Committee, said he oversees about 76 percent of the state's budget. While he appreciates Guinn's pledge to not raise taxes, he thinks the governor-elect "will be sobered" by the health-care education study.

Pete Ernaut, Guinn's chief of staff, said early this morning that any new program of this magnitude will be problematic. He said the UCCSN system may have to consider shifting funds from other programs to meet the goals of the health care education study.

"The coming months in the Legislature will be filled with difficult choices," Ernaut said. "But if this becomes a high priority, certainly it will be something to look at."

Ann Lynch, vice president of community services at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, said the hospital is constantly going out of state to recruit health professionals. She said it would be much easier to recruit within Nevada.

"I can't think of an industry in this state that has a surplus," Lynch said. "There isn't a surplus in fireman or policemen. If they educate more registered nurses, that helps."

The study also is asking that the Legislature fund a director to oversee health-care studies at the universities and community colleges. Packham said the director would coordinate research and do feasibility studies.

"I felt this report was so well done," said Thalia Dondero, chairwoman of the Health Care Education Committee. "This is the first time we had an overall look see what is needed to provide health care for our citizens."

Overall, the Health Care Education Study showed that Nevada is ranked 49th out of 50 states for the quality of its health-care education programs. It is recommending that the state's colleges and universities provide education programs that meet the evolving needs of the community.