Sunrise names new medical director

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003 | 9:14 a.m.

As Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center officials apply to the state to operate a trauma center, Dr. Michael H. Metzler, a veteran midwestern trauma services director, has been named medical director at the Las Vegas hospital.

Metzler is joining Sunrise from the University of Missouri-Columbia where he served as director of trauma, general surgery and surgical critical care, Allen Stipe, president and CEO of Sunrise Hospital said Monday.

Metzler also chaired the Missouri Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Service for the last seven years.

"Both Sunrise and all of Las Vegas are fortunate to have someone with Dr. Metzler's expertise and background practicing in our community," Stipe said. "His credentials are unmatched and his vision of building a world-class trauma center are in line with our vision of creating a trauma system for our city."

Currently, University Medical Center's Trauma Center is the only Level 1 trauma unit operating in Southern Nevada.

Sunrise is planning to begin trauma center operations at Level 1 or Level 2 in 2004, Stipe said. Level 1 is highest of four possible classifications, meaning the trauma center is staffed with trauma surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists and emergency physicians 24 hours a day.

Metzler studied at Johns Hopkins University and earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Executive Committee. He has been widely published.

"To help Sunrise Hospital create a much needed trauma center, and, with University Medical Center, a community-wide trauma system, is both a wonderful and challenging opportunity," Metzler said.

In August 2003 Stipe said that the hospital was actively recruiting doctors to staff the center.

However, UMC's Trauma Center director, Dr. John Fildes, said earlier that the 11,000 patients treated at the West Charleston medical center live within a 30-mile radius, which covers the valley adequately.

Sunrise is located at Maryland Parkway and Desert Inn Road.

If the trauma network were to grow, it should cover other parts of Las Vegas, such as the southeast part of the valley, including Henderson, Fildes said.

Stipe, however, said there is a need for redundant services to serve the growing population.

The Nevada Division of Health, the regulatory arm responsible for approving the operations of such medical services, will determine the location of the next trauma center in Las Vegas.

No other hospitals in the valley have offered to start another trauma center.