Hospital leader Young leaving LV position with pride

Thursday, June 11, 1998 | 11:17 a.m.

Air Force Col. David Young says his three years as commander of the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital and his general stay in Las Vegas was unique.

As he prepares to hand over command to Col. Stanley Uchman during a 3 p.m. ceremony Monday at the hospital, Young reflected Wednesday on his command that has been highlighted with a national hospital commendation, yet hampered somewhat by veterans' claims that they are not getting a fair shake with availability of treatment.

"My stay in Las Vegas has been unique with tremendous opportunities for me and my family," said Young, who got his medical degree at the University of Southern California and is an 18-year Air Force veteran. "At times, it has been like living in Disneyland."

The 49-year-old has been transferred to Hawaii where he will become the Pacific Surgeon General of the Air Force on June 29.

Among his accomplishments, Young said he is most proud of the hospital being accredited with commendation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations both last and this year.

That means the O'Callaghan hospital is rated in the top 5 percent of excellence for all hospitals in the United States -- military or civilian.

To achieve that, Young, an internist who was promoted to colonel in 1993, said his administration has been successful in drawing together Air Force medical personnel with doctors and other health care professionals from the Department of Veterans Affairs, University Medical Center, the medical school and private contractors.

However, angry veterans and retired military personnel have dogged Young, as they did his predecessor Col. Jerry Muehlberger and as they undoubtedly will Uchman, who will come here from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

"When I arrived, the publicity was bad -- headlines like '$110 million hospital sits empty' -- but this facility has been a success, not a boondoggle," Young said. "The hospital was built with 90 percent Air Force money and 10 percent VA money, yet 20 percent of its occupancy is for veterans. And 95 percent (of veterans referred to O'Callaghan hospital) are treated on site."