State board hears case for second LV trauma center

By Timothy Pratt (contact)

Monday, Dec. 15, 2003 | 9:22 a.m.

Arguments for and against opening a new trauma center at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center were presented in public for the first time Friday.

In what was a sign of a controversy that will only grow in the months to come, Dr. John Fildes, director of the only trauma center currently serving the Las Vegas Valley -- at University Medical Center -- spoke against the idea.

Dr. Michael H. Metzler, hired by Sunrise in August to pitch to the state the hospital's idea for opening a second trauma center, offered the opposing argument.

Both stood before the state Board of Health as part of a series of presentations Friday on the ins and outs of licensing a new trauma center. Sunrise has begun the lengthy process that will end months from now with the state Health Division approving or denying such a license.

One of the central issues discussed was whether having two trauma centers close together -- 2.5 miles separate the two Las Vegas hospitals -- is in the best interest of a valley growing at its northern and southern ends.

"The trauma center exceeds the needs of our community at this time ... (and is) not in a crisis," Fildes said.

"(Another) center in the central part of the city is not needed," he said.

The UMC director said 96 percent of the trauma center's patients reach the center within a half-hour, and that the center has received high marks from the American College of Surgeons. Fildes, who has led UMC's center since 1996, also said the community would be better-served by a trauma center in the northwest or southeast part of the valley.

But Metzler said that having the two centers close together could improve care at each one through collaboration, and Sunrise's location east of the Strip would make it easier for ambulances on that side of the valley to transport trauma patients to that hospital. UMC is located west of the Strip.

Sunrise is applying to be a Level II trauma center. UMC is a Level I center. The main difference is that Sunrise wouldn't engage in research and teaching on-site.

"Collaboration, not political posturing, should be the mandate in this process," Metzler said to the board.

After the meeting, Metzler said he felt like the cards were stacked against him in the process, since he thinks there is more sympathy with Fildes' position as an employee of the county-run hospital.

"Our intent is to work within the system, but we don't find the system wanting any part of us," he said.

Members of the board of health also asked the two men about hiring personnel for a new trauma center, given difficulties seen valley-wide in attracting and retaining personnel due to rising malpractice rates.

Fildes said his center was "very challenged."

Metzler said he would not look to draw personnel away from UMC and was searching nationally. "But it's a chicken and egg thing," he said.

"I can't promise anyone they'll have a job yet without the license."

Reached after the meeting, Clark County Manager Thom Reilly -- who was not at the meeting -- said that Sunrise and all interested parties will have input in the process leading up to the state's decision.

That process will include public meetings hosted by the Clark County Health District, a review of Sunrise by the American College of Surgeons and an outside assessment of the trauma care system in the Las Vegas Valley.

Fildes said he would be stating UMC's case to the public in the coming months.

"I would hope the state takes the public's wishes into account," he said.

But Reilly said the issue should not be seen as "UMC versus Sunrise.'

"If we define this as between UMC and Sunrise, we lose," Reilly said.

"You have to look at this as a discussion about the ideal trauma system, not about individual trauma centers.

"It is a county-wide discussion that demands and deserves a community dialogue," he said.