Health

Question remains: How much does it really cost to go to the hospital?: Sunday, May 12, 2013; Health Care:; By Karoun Demirjian; Southern Nevada got its first peek at the cost of health care in hospitals last week, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released an enormous data trove detailing how much hospitals across the country charge the government for similar services. But the view has raised more questions.

The gift of the dolphins: Foundation gives children with terminal illnesses a reason to smile: Saturday, May 11, 2013; By Brian Nordli; Marixa Cota held her son Joshua as they walked with other families through the palm-tree-lined confines of Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage Saturday. They marveled at splashing dolphins, sleeping lions and a pacing shadow leopard. Joshua acted like any 2-year-old would.

Assembly committee urged to keep cost down for cancer pills: Friday, May 10, 2013; By Cy Ryan; A woman who contracted cancer in 2008 told an Assembly committee Friday she and her husband may have to sell their home to afford the pills that treat the disease. She and others told of the hardships faced by the high cost of these pills and urged the committee to pass a bill that requires insurance companies that offer cancer coverage to limit the co-payment to $100 per prescription.

Feds cite failures in Rawson-Neal hospital's patient-discharge procedures: Wednesday, May 8, 2013; By Cy Ryan; A federal inspection says the Rawson-Neal mental hospital in Las Vegas failed to provide safe plans for patients for further services and shelter when they are discharged and placed on a bus to another state.

Court document details alleged neglect that led to 12-year-old's death in 2012: Wednesday, May 8, 2013; By William D'Urso, John Taylor; A biological mother’s suspicions about her 12-year-old son’s death a year ago triggered an investigation that last month resulted in the boy’s stepmother being charged with murder. Kalinda W. Mercado was charged April 19 in Las Vegas Justice Court with murder in the Feb. 4, 2012, death of Emmanuel Mercado.

Nevada psych hospital workers tell of pressure to move patients out: Tuesday, May 7, 2013; MENTAL HEALTH:; By Cynthia Hubert and Phillip Reese, Sacramento Bee; During his graveyard shift at Nevada's primary state psychiatric hospital, Gilbert Degala regularly walked patients outside and watched them climb into taxis bound for the Greyhound bus station.

Jury seated, opening arguments begin in Las Vegas hepatitis C trial: Monday, May 6, 2013; By Ken Ritter, Associated Press; A former endoscopy clinic owner and an employee were responsible for a Las Vegas hepatitis C outbreak that sickened at least seven people and killed one, prosecutors told a Nevada state court jury Monday.

Number of sick after eating at Firefly more than doubles: Thursday, May 2, 2013; By Ed Komenda; Health District officials say more than 80 people have now reported getting sick after eating at a popular Las Vegas restaurant. The outbreak happened at the Firefly restaurant on Paradise Road, where authorities on Friday ordered management to close.

Suicide in school: District's prevention effort leads to student hospitalizations: Thursday, May 2, 2013; Four identified through program of being at risk as CCSD strives to combat a rising statistic; By Paul Takahashi; Four Clark County School District students were placed on suicide watch at area hospitals last weekend after the students took part in a suicide prevention program and were deemed a high risk, according to district officials.

From improper food storage to bugs, report lays out alleged violations at Firefly: Wednesday, May 1, 2013; By Eli Segall; Firefly Tapas Kitchen & Bar, the popular Las Vegas restaurant that temporarily closed last week after diners reported getting sick, was cited for a range of health-code violations, including fruit flies and small moths at the restaurant.

Cross-country relay passes through Las Vegas with goal of raising thousands for MS: Tuesday, April 30, 2013; By William D'Urso; Ashley Kumlein ran across the country in 2010 to help raise money for and awareness of multiple sclerosis, a disease that has afflicted her mother for 30 years. Now Kumlein, 28, has her own nonprofit organization, MS Run the US, which has gathered 15 runners to complete the same feat she accomplished alone.

Experts: Here's what Vegas needs to become a health care hub: Monday, April 29, 2013; Health care:; By Richard N. Velotta; When medical and tourism professionals from Southern Nevada got together years ago to plot a course to bring people to Las Vegas to treat their ailments, there were plenty of skeptics. Why would anybody come to a renowned adult playground for a medical procedure? Did Las Vegas really have enough quality physicians to be considered a medical tourism destination?

Knee-replacement advances help Hall of Famer gain his pain-free wish: Saturday, April 27, 2013; Health care:; By William D'Urso; Hall of Famer Tom Mack had become used to dealing with injury during his NFL career, but this was different. Basic tasks — such as playing golfing, walking and even driving — became painful. The 69-year-old Henderson resident began searching for a doctor who could make him pain-free.

Roseman University to bring valley its first M.D.-granting medical school: Friday, April 26, 2013; By Paul Takahashi; Roseman University of Health Sciences announced plans Friday to create the first M.D.-granting medical school in Southern Nevada. Over the next several months, Roseman will begin the accreditation process for the medical school. Although the timeline and details are still being worked out, the new Roseman University School of Medicine may begin enrolling students by 2015 or 2016.

2 staffers at psychiatric hospital disciplined over patient busing: Wednesday, April 24, 2013; By Cy Ryan; The state has completed its review of 1,500 patients shipped out of state from a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital, finding five or six cases in which the hospital’s discharge policy was not followed.