UMC task force schedules meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 | 8:49 a.m.

Clark County's committee of citizens examining the public hospital system largely wrapped up its work Tuesday.

However, the UMC Citizen's Task Force scheduled one more meeting to bring its recommendations for policy changes to the public. The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct. 1; the place has yet to be determined.

The Clark County Commission, which created the task force in January to look at the troubling financial situation at University Medical Center, is still scheduled to receive the recommendations and possibly act on them Oct. 7.

While operating losses have been trimmed to less than $1 million a month, last February the hospital lost more than $3 million. Last December, the commission was forced to contribute $38 million to stem the flow of red ink at the hospital.

The group, which includes representatives from local health access advocates, business and labor, brought about 20 recommendations forward. Among them:

* Continuing the operation of the region's Quick Care urgent care centers.

* Combining financial and social-needs criteria in examining future cuts or changes to the hospital system.

* Asking the state to undertake a thorough assessment of the health-care needs in Las Vegas, and how a proposal by Sunrise Hospital to add a new trauma center would impact UMC.

* Keeping the task force together for twice-yearly meetings to assist with the implementation of recommendations.

Clark County Manager Thom Reilly said the recommendations are good ones that came out of "spirited discussion" among the various interest positions.

"We crafted the task force to represent different segments of society," Reilly said. "I really like the product they are coming up with."