Medical school closing its private psychiatric practice

Jennifer Knight

Friday, July 12, 2002 | 9:47 a.m.

The University of Nevada School of Medicine will close the doors to its private psychiatric practice in Las Vegas by the end of the month and send an estimated 100 patients to other doctors, officials said Thursday.

"It's really comparable to a doctor deciding to retire and refer his patients elsewhere," said Dr. Ole Thienhaus, chairman of the School of Medicine's department of psychiatry.

The Patient Care Center at 1707 W. Charleston Blvd. is an outpatient facility run by the School of Medicine. The private practice was operating in the red and could not remain open, Thienhaus said.

Psychiatrists working for the School of Medicine will continue to serve patients at the University Medical Center, the Veterans Administration Medical Center and Clark County jails, Thienhaus said.

The School of Medicine's other clinic in Reno will continue to see patients and most of the management staff will work from there.

All patients were sent 30-day notices with offers of backup care for the month.

Uninsured patients in need of psychiatric care should call Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services at 486-6000. Those with insurance will be given referrals to other private practitioners upon request.