Physicians say laws favor Quick Care centers

Tuesday, April 24, 2001 | 11:14 a.m.

A coalition of local physicians are taking issue with the University Medical Center's Quick Care centers, saying that the county hospital treatment facilities are providing unfair competition.

The Quick Care centers are popular with people without a primary care physician. Unlike urgent care facilities offered by private hospitals or medical groups, UMC's 15 Quick Cares are paid for in part with county tax dollars.

UMC officials say that although the Quick Cares lost about $8 million last year, the centers brought in $17 million in revenue from referral patients. That means the centers ultimately contributed $9 million to the hospital's coffers, said William Hale, chief executive officer of UMC.

The private physicians are seeking passage of Senate Bill 355, which would force public entities to comply with certain laws and regulations and even pay fees when providing goods or services in competition with private entities. The bill is being considered by the Government Services Committee.

It's impossible for doctors in the private sector to compete with UMC, which can offer better benefits and salaries to its employees, said Dr. James Hogan, who supports the bill. UMC received about $70 million from the county last year, which means private doctors are paying taxes to compete against themselves, Hogan said.

UMC uses its Quick Cares as leverage to negotiate contracts with large corporations and companies for health services, something private physicians can't match, Hogan said. Patients are funneled from the walk-in clinics to the hospital's beds, he said.

"All we're asking for is a level playing field," said Hogan, who operates one clinic and has been practicing in the Las Vegas area for 15 years. "If we used these kinds of business tactics we would all be in jail."

Hale said the 15 Quick Care centers are an important doorway to the county hospital's health care system. Patients at the walk-in centers often have to check in to the county hospital for other medical services, Hale said. The Quick Cares also provide an invaluable community service, given the shortfall of physicians and overburdened hospitals being forced to divert patients from emergency rooms, Hale said.

"Our role is to serve the entire community, wherever there's a need," Hale said. "I would hate to think what would happen if people suddenly didn't have the Quick Cares as an option."

Dr. Greg Griffin, who says his Pahrump practice has suffered because of the Quick Cares, said UMC should look at its own 1931 charter, which requires the medical center to provide health care to the area's indigent population.

"How many indigent people are going to walk in to the Quick Care in Green Valley?" Griffin asked. "If UMC's charter is to help the less fortunate, why are they opening Quick Cares in the most affluent areas?"

Larry Preston, president of Pinnacle Medical Management in Las Vegas, said the Quick Cares are guaranteed tax dollars and never have to show a profit. Preston, whose organization provides management support to doctors and hospitals, said the Quick Cares' financial cushion of tax dollars makes the centers impervious to competition.

Preston, who supports the Senate bill, said he believes indigent patients are turned away from the Quick Cares and directed toward UMC's emergency room, a claim Hale called "absolutely false."

"We never turn anyone way because they can't pay," Hale said.

Hale said the private physicians' complaints are a poor reflection on the profession.

"It's obvious they're motivated by greed versus what the needs of the community really are," Hale said.

Hogan, who at one time had 15 doctors working for him, said since the Quick Cares began opening about four years ago he has been struggling to hire staff and has closed two of his three clinics.

"This isn't about a bunch of rich doctors whining because they can't go out an buy a Mercedes," said Hogan, who added that for 20 years he provided medical care to the poor in Guatemala.