Results of MVRH Community Health Assessment Released

By CHERYL JENSEN

The Progress

Results of the recent community assessment survey regarding the health needs in the Virgin Valley and Moapa Valley communities and the quality of care provided by Mesa View Regional Hospital in Mesquite were presented at a meeting on Thursday, March 29 at the Mesquite Senior Center.

John Packham, PhD Associate Dean of statewide initiatives spoke about the survey conducted by the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

Kelly H. Adams, CEO of Mesa View Regional Hospital spoke about the new equipment and services available at the local hospital as well as new healthcare providers that will soon be joining the staff.
“The survey was done to help the local hospital meet the growing needs of the community,” Packham said at the meeting. “We had over 700 responses – which shows how engaged this community is.”

Packham said that the response to the four-month survey, conducted between Dec. 2022 and March 2023, was greater than many other communities that the group has studied. “The number of respondents was dynamite and there is confidence in the percentages!” Packham said. “Most of the responses were online surveys and most came from the five local zip codes.”

The results showed the top three health needs in the region included: access to health care, affordability and adequate services for seniors.

Those surveyed also said that the factor most negatively affecting public health and wellbeing in the communities was a lack of health care specialists and services, Packham said.

According to the survey, participants rated the overall health of the community at 73.4 percent. “That shows that this is viewed as a great place to live and work,” Packham said. “When asked to rate their own personal health the rate was 79.2% with only 1.7% of those surveyed rating themselves as very unhealthy.

When asked what the three factors most important for a healthy community, respondents said access to health care, healthy behaviors and lifestyles, low crime rate and safe neighborhoods.
“Having parks, recreation opportunities with all the golf courses promotes healthy behavior,” Packham said.

Mesa View CEO Kelly Adams addressed some new services that are being added at the hospital that might address part of the access problem. He said that the Helmsley Charitable Trust Foundation has awarded a $2 million grant for new lab equipment, 3-D imagery, echocardiography, x-ray equipment, MRI upgrade with low dosage. All of the new equipment would be digital, he said.

In addition, the hospital pharmacy is expanding and will be able to mix different chemotherapy drugs and other medications. That means that patients needing these drugs will not have to travel so far, Adams said.

The hospital lab is also receiving attention. Adams said that in 30 days, the microbiology department would be able to take the cultures and process them in-house instead of the 2-5 day turn-around at present.

New lab equipment will be also installed and up and running soon, Adams said. An open house is planned to showcase this in the coming summer months.
“All of these innovations at Mesa View will reduce waiting times for tests and move images quicker,” Adams said.

Mesa View is also expanding its clinical services. The Hillside Urgent Care facility has expanded and has added additional practitioners. These include Sean Kiessel, DO; Carol Haase and Elena Keith, DO.

Gastrointestinal specialist Dr. George Tan will be soon available at the Mesa View Family Practice facility 2 days a month to do endometriosis screening. In addition, Justin Gomez will partner with Perry brothers in pre-op and post-op care. Madeline Richey is a nurse practitioner and will partner with IHC for cardio and pulmonary rehab.

New providers who will join the staff are Elizabeth Bluemel NP; Rae Delaney, ND; and Dagmar Crosby, MD; all this summer. Joel Spier DO will come aboard in 2024.

Logandale Quick Care Clinic is also expanding. Nurse Practitioner Jill Blasdell has joined the team.

The hospital also has many outpatient services that can be accessed including infusion therapy, radiology, diagnostic imaging, ophthalmology, orthopedics, total joint replacement, podiatric surgery, pulmonary function testing, biopsies, CT scan, hyperbaric/wound care and general surgery among others.

The hospital has many contracted health insurance plans. The facility will also take veterans who do not have to travel to Las Vegas for healthcare, Adams said.

Adams explained the opportunities for education in the medical field, “A H1B grant is available for tuition and books,” he said.

More information is available by contacting the Human Resources department at the hospital.
“This will help local residents stay in the area and work,” Adams added.

Training and career opportunities include: RN, LPN, radiology, physical therapy assistants and aids, medical assistants, CNA and other medical careers.

The hospital has on the job training and job placement available, Adams said. This is through the Rural Health Care and Workforce Programs.

For more information about these programs contact Sharyn Juarez at 775-657-5866 or email sharyn@nvha.net.