Business leaders, doctors, and policymakers gathered at The Orleans on Wednesday for a “Focus Las Vegas” symposium centered on Southern Nevada’s long-running healthcare staffing shortage and how to address it.
Discussion topics ranged from training more doctors and mental health professionals to keeping patients and healthcare dollars in the valley rather than sending them out of state.
Nevada short on healthcare jobs and residency spots
The Lincy Institute at UNLV reports that Nevada is still missing about 30 percent of the healthcare jobs it should have. A lack of residency spots is pushing many newly trained doctors out of the state.
“The consequence is a lot of our doctors from UNLV, from Toro, soon from Roseman, they leave the state, and we’re essentially educating doctors for other states, not for Nevada,” said David Damore, Ph.D., executive director of the Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West.
Years of investment seen as necessary
Leaders at the symposium described the effort as long-term, requiring years of investment. They said strengthening the healthcare workforce is critical as the Las Vegas Valley continues to grow.
The staffing issue drew attention at the state legislature last year, when nurses told lawmakers they were sometimes caring for up to 10 patients at once and pushed for mandatory staffing ratios. Hospitals warned there were not enough providers to meet those rules.
Since then, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 5 to grow Nevada’s physician, nursing, and behavioral health workforces.