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Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, left, and former Chancellor Jim Rogers tape their “State of Nevada” radio show this week.
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 | 2 a.m.
One third of the patients served by University Medical Center are uninsured, according to Jim Rogers, who is working to lure a private entity to partner with the public hospital to turn it into a teaching facility. UMC has been losing money for years.
Wednesday news conference
Rory Reid and Jim Rogers are hoping the state’s struggling medical school can help transform Clark County’s failing public hospital into a world-class teaching hospital akin to what can be found at Johns Hopkins University.
Because Reid, the Clark County Commission chairman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has been on the board of the scandal-plagued University Medical Center for seven years, opponents say he should have done more to fix the problems at UMC before now. The hospital has been in the red for years and lost $71 million in the fiscal year that ended June 30.
Recently, Reid announced that Rogers, former chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education, would lead the effort to transform UMC. Rogers owns Sunbelt Communications, which operates 16 television affiliates in five states, including KVBC Channel 3 in Las Vegas. He is driven to produce results, and he is not afraid of stepping on toes.
As the Sun’s health care reporter, I joined radio producer Adam Burke in interviewing Reid and Rogers this week on KNPR 88.9-FM’s “State of Nevada” radio program.
The following is a transcript of that interview, condensed and edited for clarity.
Why so many problems at UMC?
Reid: UMC’s problems are an expression of problems with the health care delivery system in general. Most of the charity care in Clark County occurs at UMC, which benefits the private hospitals. This is a community problem, not UMC’s problem. I think we need to stand up and say that UMC’s business model does not work. We need to do something different.
What do you mean when you say you want to turn UMC into a “teaching hospital?”
Reid: Teaching occurs at UMC, but it’s not a teaching hospital. Johns Hopkins University is the largest employer in Maryland. It has become an enterprise that attracts millions of research and development dollars and private investment. It’s an engine for economic diversification. Why can’t we do that? The answer is that we can. It will be difficult. It will take a lot of work. But that should be our goal.
The top 20 hospitals in the country use a version of the academic model. If we create an academic teaching hospital, we can access the philanthropic community, and it will become a public-private partnership that will take the burden off the taxpayer and benefit all of us.
How will you achieve this?
Reid: Jim Rogers is a tenacious, passionate and forward-thinking advocate for education and health care. I was happy he was able to give his time, and we came together to do this with the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Rogers: You can’t just look at the hospital and say: “Wow, it’s losing money, there must be something terrible going on.” A third of the patients are uninsured. You can’t double the price you charge them because it’s still nothing.
We need to grow it from the inside. The University of Nevada School of Medicine does teaching in Reno and clinical work here in Las Vegas. In other states, the medical schools have partnered with a public hospital and said, “Together we can become successful.” We need academia to step up. But it’s a partnership that must go hand in hand with UMC.
You have referred to UMC and the medical school as “two poor children.” How can two weak partners combine to create one of the top teaching hospitals in the country?
Rogers: UMC has a lot of patients, 4,000 employees and it has a tremendous budget. But it can’t do the academic part. Then you have the smallest medical school in the United States and it must team up in some form with a hospital. If you put one and one together, you may end up with a 10. That’s where we need to go.
Is it just a matter of changing the will of the institutions so that they combine for greatness?
Reid: I think we need to create the centrifugal force to make this happen. UMC has a tremendous set of assets. It cost hundreds of millions to build. It will continue to attract patients. But it is shackled by a business model that does not work. We believe there’s a way to take that asset, along with our partner in the university system, and make it attractive to private investment. We’re going to look at every model around the country. Maybe a nonprofit should operate UMC and not the county.
This hasn’t happened before (at UMC) because nobody tried to do it. Other people have done this. I guarantee the day that Johns Hopkins starting talking about taking over that public hospital, it didn’t have a nickel in its budget for that. But it found a way to make one and one equal five, and that’s what we’re trying to do.
Some in the medical community can’t comprehend how this is possible.
Rogers: Going back in history, the medical school has never shown a great interest in Southern Nevada. Its people have been reluctant to push the growth down here. But given the population of this state, the medical school must grow. I was there five years as chancellor, and the medical school, frankly, did not do much in that five years.
Milton Glick (president of UNR) is supportive of this, and the regents are too. This is the first time everyone has come together under the health sciences system and looked forward saying: We need to develop the medical school in Southern Nevada. But we can’t do it without developing and collaborating with a hospital. For a long time, the UMC leadership had no interest either. I tried to call the former CEO on many occasions to get the higher education system involved. I never got a return call.
I don’t think you can fix this thing from the bottom up. You have to look at the structure.
Speaking of the structure, it’s widely known that Clark County commissioners don’t know how to run a public hospital. Should they continue to serve as its board of trustees?
Reid: If you’re going to fundamentally change the hospital you need to fundamentally change the governance structure. The problem you described is not one I’ll deny. We’ve tried to do a lot of things to make the hospital better, but we need more expertise and a new governance structure.
The Cleveland Clinic is already world-class and wants to expand in Las Vegas. Why not see if it wants to take over UMC and turn it into a teaching hospital?
Reid: As the leader on this initiative, my job is not to prejudge any ideas or push it in any direction. Everything should be on the table. We should look at every available structure out there and see if we can copy it.
Rogers: I’m sure we’ll call the Cleveland Clinic. I’m sure we’ll call the University of Pittsburgh. These are big-time players. They’ve been successful because they’ve been innovative. At least there are models out there. Once I figure out what is wrong with this structure, then the question is how do we fix this structure.
Commissioner Reid, your opponents for the governor’s seat have criticized UMC’s performance under your leadership. Some say this effort is just political cover while you run for governor.
Reid: In the seven years I’ve been working on UMC, we’ve done things to make it better and move forward and then taken steps backward along the way. I’ve realized this model is flawed. We need fundamental change.
That call for fundamental change simply hadn’t occurred because it was difficult and complicated. There were tremendous financial interests that might oppose it. To suggest this is being done for political reasons is unfounded. There is no way to know what the ultimate outcome will be. This may be a glorious success or it may be something less than that. The fact that I’m taking a risk and jumping off this cliff holding Jim Rogers’ hand says something about my leadership skills, not about a political calculation of some sort.
Will we know the outcome of this effort before the election in November?
Reid: No one knows the answer to that question, which is why it’s a risk. If I were thinking only politics, I wouldn’t have done this. I would have taken the safe course. But that’s not what I was elected to do. I was elected to the Clark County Commission and I’m going to be in that position for another year and I’m going to try and finish my job.
They didn't mention people not paying their bills, like illegals?
Reid has ignored this and all the other problems of the county for years. Now that he wants higher office he finally notices something needs fixed. Sorry Rory, you and dad are done.
I visited UMC as the parent of a patient.
1. They (UMC) needs to create some sound protection at the POS so that patient information is kept private. They need to stop creating full color paper road maps in triplicate for ID thefts.
2. The wait times in ER are unacceptable.
Regardless of "governance" or business structure it seems to be about inadequate staff to patient ratios. FIX that.
3. I want to believe that Staff is competent. I can't say.
4. Our ER doctor thought it was necessary to call my spouse on her cell phone after wards to "chat her up".
5. The only good thing about our experience there was the conversation in the waiting room.
But that involved real actual people, not politicians.
When you have the LV Sun and other press supporting you, it is easy to discuss a subject such as UMC whoas and possible solutions without any scrutiny. Rory helped create the problem he is discussing which is part of the story NOT being told. What ever happened to the big boss of UMC who paid his buddies from Chicago millions for doing nothing?? He was never convicted, never put in jail, the money was never retrieved, Rory has never mentioned that. Lets not let them pee on our legs or spit in our face anymore. Demand fiscal responsibility. (Like that is going to happen, it is good to dream)
Ok I read the entire article and glaringly absent was any reason WHY making this a teaching hospital would solve the financial woes. Are the illegals that get their dialysis there suddenly going to decide to go to Valley Hospital? The lion's share of the hospital's woes are directly related to the local governments' conscious decision not to deal with the problem of illegal immigrants. Jim Rogers is not the answer here. He has his own agenda and doesn't lie with the interests of the residents.
Hang on you uninsured or out of work Las Vegans...you cannot compel a private hospital to take charity cases. Without a public hospital, you will have NO WHERE to go when a medical emergency strikes. The elderly, the homeless, the indigent will become someone else's problem. So much for a national health care plan. Thanks Jim and Rory for continuing compassion and care for the less fortunate!
Rory Reid is a stone Dork
Rory Reid is NOT responsible for the problems at the hospital---MILLIONS WITH NO HEALTH INSURANCE IS THE PROBLEM!!
Human beings get sick whether they are insured or not, and rather than DIE, they go to the emergency room, and at a public hospital, they must be seen. No one is seen who does not have a LIFE OR DEATH EMERGENCY.
Tea-bagging republicans continue to discount the hospital staff by assUming they take people in for NON-life threatening reasons. Their resources are limited; while the demand for their services are unlimited, and they make very careful decisions when admitting.
To the arrogant moron tea-bagging republicans who want to "blame" humans for -->getting sick while supporting the blood sucking insurance industry over their fellow Americans, and who are continually blaming everything on illegals, you are off-base and out-of touch with reality.
We are paying for the uninsured ANYWAY--$71 million for 1 (one) year--get it NOW... It is time to support heath insurance reform now, and quit fighting against this country's best interests in favor of the miserably failed "conservative tax & spend" ideology.
Hi consultantd, thanks for your comment. I wanted to reply to your allegation that the Sun is "supporting" UMC. The Sun reports in an independent, accurate and fair manner on UMC. Did you see our stories on the privacy leaks, the pregnant woman in labor who was ignored in the ER and the surgeons questioning UMC's management? The Sun is neither "supportive" or "unsupportive" of UMC. We want what's in the public's interest, and we do hold the hospital to a standard of excellence.
Also, you brought up Lacy Thomas, the former CEO. He was indicted and is awaiting trial now.
Feel free to call if you have any questions. I'm at 259-2330.
A partnership with University of Nevada won't attract philanthropy. They need to partner with a brand that has a good reputation like Cleveland Clinic or something similar. Those organizations have the connections to get dollars and docs to the hospital. And definitely get the county commissioners as far away from governance as possible. They don't know what they are doing and are really not interested. Commissioner Weekly for example has no clue what it takes to oversee a hospital like UMC.
So what is Rodgers doing now, kissing Rory Reid's rump?
Who gives a crab about the liberal jerk Rodgers?
He doesn't know a damn thing about the medical career field!
As also, does Rory Reid not know a damn thing!
Does anyone believe that Rory Reid is capable of managing anything?
Remember for the past 7 years, it has been his responsibility to ensure UMC did not have these problems but he did not do nothing about it!
Now, since he thinks he is going to move up to another level, that we should all trust him to improve not only UMC before he leaves office in a few months and join the unemployment line, as he will not stand a chance in hell of winning in November!
Reid, go away along with your ancient old father!
We are not going to tolerate the theft any more from the Reids in this state!
NEVER AGAIN WILL WE WILL ALLOW YOU CRIMINAL REIDS TO RUN ANYTHING IN THIS STATE EVER AGAIN!
Somebody told me that there was a push in the pass to turn the UMC into teaching hospital years ago but Reid, Jr and his buddies rejected it.
I guess that is Reid, Jr's strategy....wait until things get really really really bad and then do something about it.
That fits with everything else he does.
Hi dhvincent1, thanks for the journalism tips! The problem with your questions is that they are ones that Reid and Rogers can't answer at this point, because they don't know the answers. That's what they're trying to explore right now. So rather than have an interview full of "We don't know" answers, which would not be very productive or interesting, we tried to focus on what the two men can say about their proposed plan.
Here are a few things the interview did reveal: Reid agrees that the county commissioners are not qualified to run UMC and that the governance should be changed; they propose that two weak institutions can combine, somehow, to produce a top-notch teaching hospital; and the outcome of this proposal by Reid and Rogers may not be known until after the gubernatorial election.
I think those are interesting and relevant points, and those are not the points that a "cheerleader" for Reid would draw out in an interview.
If you have any other tips, I'd love to hear from you in person! I'm at 259-2330.
Marshall
Lack jobs-create jobs by building a state of the art medical center connected with the University of Nevada Las Vegas Medical Center.
A Mid-western hospital this w/e is debuting and previewing the diVinci robotic surgery assistant.
With this robotic surgery assistant the doctors control the programs, the operation is much more less exposure to germs and hospital infection.
With the diVinci the physican can be in dippity-do town and operate at a hospital located near the Black Sea. \
If there is a malfuction of the robotic arms, the patient is SOL and the doctor takes over.
Rory you hired the thugs from Chicago to run the hospital because they were the right color. Your judgement is a proven failure. Go take up golf so you and your father can enjoy your early retirements.
To paraphrase the Late Senator Lloyd Benson: "I know Johns Hopkins Teaching Hospital and sir UMC is no Johns Hopkins." Just like most other government solutions if you fast forward this decision to the future the costs will skyrocket astronomically, however the burden financially will be spread to the state and federal government. The qualitity of care will remain mediocre at best. The most effective way to solve the problem is to let HCA or Catholic Health manage the place, ditch the medical school and residency programs, have the feds pay for illegals. Viola! problem solved
Rory could be the missing link between Shovel Ready Harry and a human being.
UNLV needs a medical school. Think about how this works:
The state's medical school is situated 500 miles from Las Vegas in a town and university that is at odds with Las Vegas.
What does some medical school administrator sitting in Reno care about helping to improve medical care in Las Vegas?
They can give lip service to it all they want, but deep inside, they just don't have the motivation to do anything.
That is why UNR medical school should concentrate on Reno and the rurals, and why someone like the Don W. Reynolds Foundation or the Englestad Foundation should donate $100 million dollars to start a medical school at UNLV of which UMC will be its teaching hospital.
If someone will allow us, we will take care of our own problems. A Reno based medical school and administration just isnt going to have the sense of urgency to do something like UNLV would. Thats why UNR medical school is the smallest in the country and why our medical care in So. Nevada is so poor.
Letting the UNR school of Medicine have UMC as a teaching hospital would be one of the gravest mistakes we could make.
As an alternative if UNLV can't have its own medical school, how about they make it the TRUE University of Nevada School of Medicine and have it jointly administered by the two universities, sharing faculty and resources with each concentrating on its speciality and allowing a full 4 years of medical school to be attended in either Reno or Las Vegas.
Is anyone listening out there?
Marshall, consultantd's criticism seemed to be that you are not holding Rory Reid accountable for the issues that occurred on his watch. I think that is valid criticism.
You replied by saying that you have run stories that were critical of UMC. What you failed to mention is that those stories placed nearly all of the blame on UMC's current administration. You and the Sun did not blame the Chairman of the County Commission, Rory Reid, the person who is ultimately responsible for UMC for the past seven years. It is clear to anyone who critically reads these articles that the Sun's agenda is to distance Rory Reid from UMC's perceived foibles and to point to Reid as the solution to the problem.
Isn't Rory Reid responsible for hiring the indicted Lacy Thomas? Wasn't Rory Reid responsible for taking years to realize that Lacy Thomas was fleecing UMC? Isn't Rory Reid responsible for hiring the current UMC administration, which you and the Sun claim is so inept?
Isn't Rory Reid accountable for continuing with the same broken financial model, year (2003), after year (2004), after year (2005), after year (2006), after year (2007), after year (2008), after year (2009)? Shouldn't Rory Reid have to answer why it took him seven years to realize the financial model was broken?
Doesn't Rory Reid owe it to the taxpayers of Clark County to explain why it has taken the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars for him to finally figure out that the model is broken? Shouldn't Rory Reid have to explain to the voters of Nevada why we should trust him with our state's highest office when he cannot even competently handle being a County Commissioner?
Until you and your editors start asking the tough questions, your puff pieces will continue to have the hollow ring of a group of 17-year-old girls waiving pom poms and shouting, "Rory, Rory, he's our man, if he can't do it . . .."
A world-class medical facility similar to JHM in Clark County is for many reasons a very desirable endeavor and should be persistently pursued.
Suggest immediate recruitment of "key" JHM personnel to gain the insight and best approach to expeditiously obtain a successful conversion -- in short, to help obtain the answers sought.
The concept makes folly out of the city-hall, sports arena, mob museum, metro headquarter, etc. community alternatives.
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