NRMC taking steps to weather economic downturn

Nevada Daily Mail

Nevada Regional Medical Center is taking steps to weather the current economic storm and continue providing consistent, top-quality health care to the Nevada community, noted a press release.

"High unemployment and uncertain incomes cause people to postpone medical treatment," said Greg Shaw, chief financial officer at NRMC. "Declining insurance, failure to pass the Medicaid Expansion, along with government reimbursement changes, have taken their toll on the bottom-line."

Over the last nine months, NRMC has had success in physician recruitment. New doctors have already signed to come to Nevada and several more are in the process.

NRMC is also in the process of starting the new hospitalist program for its inpatient services that has not been in Nevada before, noted the release.

"The goal is to provide quality services to the community and to encourage our neighbors and friends to spend their health care dollars close to home," said Judith Herstein,

community relations director at NRMC.

"But, our efforts to increase revenue are not going to do the whole job; we are also exploring ways to cut expenses, especially in ways that will maintain and improve our service to the community.

"For example, the staff at NRMC has been asked to share their thoughts openly regarding cost savings, and they've

had some great ideas, Herstein said."

Employee efforts have already yielded significant savings in supply costs and reduction of overtime, according to the press release.

"Beyond that, the hospital has increased the cross-training of existing employees, so they are better able to cover other areas of the hospital when their own work load allows. That way, the hospital can minimize having to send employees home when work slows."

"These efforts will result in savings for NRMC," said Shaw. "We're doing what we can to ensure we successfully navigate these tough economic times and have the least impact on the lives of our employees and their families."

"NRMC employees are stepping up to help," said Herstein. "They understand the problem and are willing to be open and flexible to address it. Providing great health care for our community is what we do and what we're going to keep doing, she said."