Doctors launch petition for kids hospital

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

A team of pediatricians angered by the Clark County Commission's decision to delay plans for a children's hospital launched a petition drive this week to force the board to proceed with the project.

The commission voted last month to assemble a task force to study whether the county can afford to authorize an $80 million general obligation bond to fund a facility operated by the University Medical Center.

UMC officials, along with Clark County commissioners Erin Kenny and Bruce Woodbury, protested the delay.

The physicians, who are calling themselves the "Caring for Children Committee," must collect 38,641 signatures by July 31 to make the county commission consider adopting an ordinance approving the bond issue.

If the commission opposes the bond issue, the question will be placed on November's general election ballot.

During their May 17 meeting, commissioners argued about whether the issue had become political. Kenny called the board's decision "politics at its finest" and "one of the greatest injustices I have ever seen."

Some in attendance believe the presence of Billy Vassiliadis, a heavy campaign contributor and powerful consultant who represents Sunrise Hospital, influenced the board's decision. Sunrise Hospital opposes the proposed UMC children's hospital.

Questions have been raised about Kenny's involvement in organizing the Caring for Children Committee to get back at her colleagues, but on Monday Kenny denied being the force behind the physicians group.

"I'm aware the medical community was disappointed in the decision of the board and thought it was wrong," said Kenny, who is chairwoman of the UMC Board of Trustees. "This is a larger issue than just seven elected officials, and I applaud the medical community."

Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera, UMC board's vice-chairman who strongly pushed for the task force, commended the committee for getting involved in the political process and battling for a project they feel is vital.

But his position on the matter hasn't changed.

"I think the difficulty with this issue is a children's hospital is one part of the tremendous need for children's health care in Southern Nevada," Herrera said. "I don't want there to be a perception created that a children's hospital is all we need to do."

Herrera said he hoped the task force would take a comprehensive look at children's health needs including access, insurance and dental care. He said he might support the ordinance if the task force's findings lean toward a children's hospital.

"We may have certain philosophical differences on how to provide better care, but we are all committed to finding solutions one way or another," Herrera said.

Commissioners have also been frustrated by Kenny's decision to conduct a survey about the children's hospital without their knowledge. Board members said Kenny unfairly sprung the idea on them, making them look like the bad guys.

Clark County does not have a free-standing children's hospital. UMC has about 70 beds reserved for children, and the privately operated Sunrise Hospital has a children's wing.

Kenny and the UMC team is pitching a a 255,840-square-foot facility with 152 beds, six operating rooms, 11 radiology exam rooms, 29 emergency exam rooms and medical equipment.

UMC officials said they are not participating in the petition drive and referred questions to Kenny's office.

Kenny emphasized that a children's hospital is not simply about "walls painted pink and blue." She said the facilities attract elite physicians whose staff not only focuses on children's health but on families' emotional needs.

"It's clear from the needs assessment studies we have a tremendous need for more pediatric beds," Kenny said. "We are not hurrying this. We are planning ahead for the future and making accommodations."

In an affidavit submitted to the county clerk's office Friday, the committee said because existing bonds will be retired the county can issue the necessary bonds to fund a free-standing hospital without raising taxes.

The pediatricians also outline reasons the county should move forward with the hospital, which would cost $92 million to build, equip and staff.

Children are the fastest-growing segment of Southern Nevada's population and a facility is needed to care for ill children regardless of whether they have insurance, the affidavit says.

"There is a critical shortage of pediatric hospital beds to meet current and future needs forcing hospitals to hold children in emergency departments and admit them into adult units," the document says.