Hospital profits up in cities, down in rural areas

CARSON CITY - Nevada's biggest hospitals, in the state's Las Vegas and Reno population centers, made profits last year. But a report Tuesday shows most rural hospitals lost money.

The report from the state Health Care Financial Analysis Unit shows the "Big Six" hospitals in Reno and Las Vegas had a combined $46 million profit. Small urban hospitals made $8.5 million, and rural hospitals had an overall loss of $4.6 million.

Combining those three figures produces a statewide net operating revenue total of nearly $50 million. That's down 7 percent from $53.8 million statewide in 1997.

The most profitable hospital in the state last year was Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, accounting for $23.3 million of the total for "Big Six" hospitals. Valley also reported 1998 revenues per admitted patient of $7,185 and profits per admission of $1,019.

Next in line was University Medical Center in Las Vegas with $5.5 million in net income, $8,442 in revenues per admitted patient and $169 in profits per admission; followed by Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, also in southern Nevada, with $5.3 million in net income, $6,692 per admission, and $119 in per-admission profits.

Washoe Medical Center in Reno reported $4.1 million in net income, $7,497 in revenues per admission, and a per-admission profit of $159.

Saint Mary's in Reno listed $4 million in net income, revenues per admission of $7,561, and a per-admission profit of $240.

Desert Springs Hospital in southern Nevada had $3.7 million in net income, $6,686 in revenues per admission, and $208 in per-admission profit.

The net income or loss for Nevada's small urban and rural hospitals includes:

-SOUTHERN NEVADA: $2.7 million net for Lake Mead Hospital; a $45,758 loss for Boulder City Hospital; $2.4 million net for St. Rose Dominican Hospital; $3.2 million net for MountainView Hospital; and a loss of $4.4 million for Summerlin Hospital.

-NORTHERN NEVADA: $3.6 million net for Carson-Tahoe Hospital; $1.5 million net for Northern Nevada Medical Center; and a loss of $455,642 for Incline Village Health Center.

-RURAL: A loss of $1.7 million for Battle Mountain General; $2.2 million net for Churchill Community Hospital; $693,292 net for Elko General; a $788,996 loss for Grover C. Dils Medical Center; a $582,673 loss for Humboldt General; a $649,922 loss for Mt. Grant General; a $1.7 million loss for Nye Regional Medical Center; a $1.1 million loss for Pershing General, a $573,022 loss for South Lyon Medical Center, and an $376,897 loss for William B. Ririe Hospital in Ely.

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