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JMartin

I appreciate the work of the Las Vegas Sun. Your articles on health care forces hospitals, physicians, government, politicians and even patients to take notice and make improvements in the quality of health care in Las Vegas. Thank you!

I am appalled by the poor quality of services that have been allowed to continue in this government managed hospital. The blame and failure resides fully with the leadership of the state agency. They should set the standard of care. These horrible mental health conditions and the substandard treatment of vulnerable people, both visitors and residents, has been going on for so long that everyone is use to it. The legislature is to blame for taking no action, the Governor is to blame for lack of oversight and leadership, and the public is to blame for not demanding better oversight of public employees and public resources. Why is there no leadership around improving conditions and the treatment of the mentally ill in Las Vegas? The northern part of the state has Assemblywoman Leslie who never seems to back down to holding the state agency accountable in her part of the state. I see none of our legislators picking up the issue. Why? We need to elect someone who makes this their issue is committed to improvements. The legislative Health Committee tackles fluff issues like snacks in schools while Nevada residents and visitor die and are provided substandard care. The state is failing because of a lack of interest, leadership and management. Shame on the legislature, shame on the Governor, shame on the state agency, and Shame on Nevada!

I applaud Specialty Surgery Center, the State Health Department, and the Las Vegas Review Journal. It's nice to see a story about something handled correctly by both the health care industry and the Department of Health. State government is finally doing its job with oversight. 2008 started with showing us what a mess our health care system was and what little oversight was provided in Las Vegas. To see this kind of change in oversight and openess to the public all within a year is commendable. I hope the county and state financial crisis can be addressed with such attentiveness, openess to the public and within a year!

State government employees are amazing. I recall recent stories in the media about the Administrator of the Nevada State Health Division being criticized for conflict of interest because he regulates his own private health care business. The story focused on Mr. Haartz' conflict of interest as owner of a private business licensed by the Health Division Bureau of Licensure and Certification to provide health care referral and case management. His conflict was that he serves as the Administrator of the agency that licenses and regulates his personal business. He controled his competitors and served his own interest by regulating himself. Eventually after complaints he was investigated, sanctioned, and forced to comply with the law. The previous Governor appointed him in his position. The Attorney General supported him in his personal gains. Legislators did nothing. These are the government structures under which the public is protected and served? It's no wonder conditions aren't safe with the officials distracted by their personal interest. None of the conflicts of interest and connections are new, it's just being revealed.

The hypocrisy by State government officials is amazing. I recall recent stories on KLAS-TV about the Administrator of the Nevada State Health Division being criticized for conflict of interest because he regulates his own private health care business. The story focused on Mr. Haartz' conflict of interest as owner of a private business licensed by the Health Division Bureau of Licensure and Certification to provide health care referral and case management. His conflict was that he serves as the Administrator of the agency that licenses and regulates his own business. He controled his competitors and served his own interest. Eventually after numerous complaints he was investigated, sanctioned, and forced to comply with the law. The previous Governor appointed him; the Attorney General supported him; and state Legislators did nothing. These are the government structures under which the public is served? Protected? This is greed and politics, not concern for public safety.