[sdreloc]

I've read many times about people from Las Vegas having to go to California, Arizona and Utah to get treatment if they have something that isn't simple and easy enough for the limited abilities of local docs and hospitals.
They find better healthcare in cities in other states including cities much smaller than Las Vegas is.

Why is that? Is it because there are not enough people with medical insurance in Las Vegas to support better healthcare?

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by sdreloc

I've read many times about people from Las Vegas having to go to California, Arizona and Utah to get treatment if they have something that isn't simple and easy enough for the limited abilities of local docs and hospitals.
They find better healthcare in cities in other states including cities much smaller than Las Vegas is.

Why is that? Is it because there are not enough people with medical insurance in Las Vegas to support better healthcare?

YOu continue to ask question calibrated to make LV look bad.

Let me play the game...

When my good friend in Palos Verdes developmed a brain tumor he had to go to Houston TX to get it treated. Why is it that Los Angeles can't treat a brain tumor?

When my departed wife came out of intensive care in Los Alamitos Hospital she died of a blood clot likely caused by poor nursing care. Why can't Los Angeles manage to provide proper care to its patients?

Maybe all the LA people might want to move to LV or somewhere they can get reasonable medical care.

[sdreloc]

Originally Posted by olecapt

YOu continue to ask question calibrated to make LV look bad.

Let me play the game...

When my good friend in Palos Verdes developmed a brain tumor he had to go to Houston TX to get it treated. Why is it that Los Angeles can't treat a brain tumor?

When my departed wife came out of intensive care in Los Alamitos Hospital she died of a blood clot likely caused by poor nursing care. Why can't Los Angeles manage to provide proper care to its patients?

Maybe all the LA people might want to move to LV or somewhere they can get reasonable medical care.

I saw many postings saying people should go to other states for medical care beyond simple things because Las Vegas healthcare was second rate for a city of its size, but I never saw any explanation as to why it was second rate. I could only guess that it might be because a higher than average percentage of people work in jobs providing no medical benefits, but I wanted to hear what people thought was causing this issue.

[Golfinnova]

Agree with olecapt. It has nothing to do with lack of doctors or hospitals; however, if someone develops a disease they may have to leave the city for specialized treatment.

Both my mother and my son had ER visits to Centennial Hills, the response has been swift, the personnel have been courteous and professional and the treatment was perfect.

[sdreloc]

How much larger than Las Vegas does a city need to be for hospitals to support specialized treatment of diseases?
I can understand a place like Centennials Hills hospital not treating everything, but what about the university medical center?

[WestieJeff]

Hospitals around the country specialize in treatment of certain kinds of diseases and thus if you have a complex case then yes you may be referred to a hospital that specializes in handling that type of case, but overall I don't see that.

I've lived here for 20 years and don't personally know of anyone who has left the city to receive treatment for any disease and my family has had open heart surgery, various other surgeries, etc. etc.

I think people are just paranoid. My wife is from the midwest and gets her dental care done there when she goes back home to visit. Mainly since she has someone she likes and doesn't want any "surprises" that's why she continues to get dental care back home. I visit a dentist here, no problems.

Originally Posted by sdreloc

How much larger than Las Vegas does a city need to be for hospitals to support specialized treatment of diseases?
I can understand a place like Centennials Hills hospital not treating everything, but what about the university medical center?

[tom_c]

Quality Care Nevada (http://s103.advocateoffice.com/ - broken link)

[KiwiKate]

I think because it seems that everyone here is from someplace else, they have apprehensions about starting over with new providers. I have a background in healthcare and have been impressed with the local primary care provider I go to for routine care. I also visited St. Rose - Siena in Henderson and was given a tour and was very impressed with what I saw and heard. This will be my hospital if I need care and I'm confident they'll deliver if I need them.

[PinkString]

Healthcare these days is either about popping a pill or having yourself cut open. What healthcare really should do is focus on lifestyle changes that actually heal people. But there is more money in treating conditions so nothing will ever change.

[fremontfred]

Originally Posted by sdreloc

Why is that? Is it because there are not enough people with medical insurance in Las Vegas to support better healthcare?

I suspect you created this thread to attack Las Vegas and slipped this theory in as a way to express your displeasure with the benefits offered by Vegas employers. If that is the case, I suggest you move somewhere where you will be happier, as that would be better for you and everyone here who likes things as they are.

To answer your question though, in addition to the reasons others have already provided, I would add that Vegas simply hasn't had the time to develop its healthcare system that other cities have. Being a relatively new city, Vegas doesn't have the advantage of having long-established and well respected practitioners. This will change over time, as poor doctors and facilities' reputations force them to close shop or move to a new city. This is an industry where it can take 5,10, 20+ years to fully develop customer relationships. As those relationships mature, you will see the quality of Vegas healthcare improve and get more in line with that of other cities.

In addition, other cities with established healthcare systems are not far away, so we don't necessarily need to develop the complex system that we otherwise would. Many people here are from neighboring cities and prefer retaining doctors who have been known to their families for years, even if they aren't right next door.