Four neighborhood hospitals coming to the valley

By Jackie Valley

Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 | 2:35 p.m.

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican is building four neighborhood hospitals in the Las Vegas Valley that could ease overcrowding at emergency rooms, the hospital system announced today.

The multimillion-dollar, 24-hour hospitals are expected to open by summer 2017 at the following locations:

• Craig Road and Camino Del Norte in North Las Vegas.

• Blue Diamond Road and Decatur Boulevard in Las Vegas.

• Flamingo Road and the 215 Beltway in Las Vegas.

• Sahara Avenue and Decatur Boulevard in Las Vegas.

The idea is to offer patients “the highest level of care in a smaller campus setting,” with a comprehensive emergency department, an inpatient wing and imaging and lab services on the first floor, officials said.

Board-certified doctors, nurses and other clinical specialists will staff the hospitals, which will include primary-care clinics as well.

The neighborhood hospitals each will create more than 100 permanent jobs, officials said. Groundbreaking for the North Las Vegas hospital is set for March 2, with construction on the others to begin shortly thereafter.

Dignity-St. Rose entered into a joint-venture agreement with Emerus, a hospital management group, to build and manage the neighborhood hospitals. Two other Las Vegas sites are under consideration for neighborhood hospitals, too, officials said.

“By partnering with Emerus and building these neighborhood hospitals, we will be expanding our services to the community in convenient locations with compassion, efficiency and excellence, while maintaining our high standards for quality, safety and service,” Brian Brannman, senior vice president of operations for Dignity Health Nevada, said in a statement.

“With several of our new locations in areas of redevelopment and growth, such as the North Las Vegas and Sahara/Decatur campuses, we will be the neighborhood choice,” Brannman said.

Hospital officials said the concept has reduced burdens on emergency rooms in Colorado and Texas, creating shorter waits in regions with neighborhood hospitals.

Dignity-St. Rose already operates three hospitals in the Las Vegas Valley at its Rose de Lima, Siena and San Martin campuses. Combined, those hospitals employ more than 3,400 people.