Las Vegas Hospitals & Healthcare Review

las vegas hospitals and healthcare

Many people may have heard of the negative reputation of Nevada’s healthcare system. However, to paraphrase Mark Twain’s quote, “The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated,” the problems with Las Vegas hospitals and healthcare have typically been exaggerated as well.

One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new community to move to is the healthcare services and hospitals of the area. For retirees, this is particular important as they typically spend more time at the doctor than do younger people, making the physician – patient relationship even more important.

This article tells you what you need to know about the hospitals and overall healthcare found in Las Vegas.

Ranking Las Vegas Healthcare

When assessing healthcare by states, U.S. News & World Reports ranked Nevada 31st overall and 23rd in quality, a firm middle of the pack rating. Furthermore, Wallet Hub ranked Nevada 23rd in terms of cost of healthcare, a relief for the budget conscious.

Additionally, it is important to remember that Nevada is a very rural state with the exception of a few areas, meaning that the state’s healthcare is not necessarily the same as what will be found in larger urban areas such as Las Vegas.

This is not to say that Las Vegas is not without some areas of concern. However, one will find that the healthcare issues faced by Las Vegas are fairly similar to those of any large, quickly growing city.

People may take a bit longer to find an ideal primary care physician, a reality in many areas. Additionally, in order to improve access, more individuals may decide they prefer to be seen by a physician’s assistant. However, wait times for services are no greater in Las Vegas than other major cities and the quality of healthcare is among the best in the state.

Additionally, health care in Las Vegas is rapidly growing. Health care already makes up 9.5% of the city’s economy, an impressive feat for an area centered on tourism.

Las Vegas Hospitals

Furthermore, Las Vegas has many quality hospitals in the city that are rather well distributed geographically, meaning access to healthcare should not be a concern for those moving to the area.

Here’s a list featuring a few of the top Las Vegas Hospitals:

Another positive addition to the Las Vegas healthcare scene is a new medical school at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. The UNLV Medical School was funded with a parcel of land from the state and over $155 million in private donations.

This will result in two new buildings totaling over 200,000 square feet, the largest of which will house the School of Medicine and a second building which will focus on nursing and physical therapy.

These join an already existing campus that features a dental school and a number of advanced clinical programs. UNLV Medical School will be the cornerstone of a state of the art medical district and will partner with a teaching hospital that houses Nevada’s only Level 1 trauma center as well as the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Brain Health.

The result will bring leading physicians to Las Vegas to engage in teaching, practice, and research while also serving as an innovative catalyst for future physicians. It will also serve to bring in significant grants for research and specialty institutes, meaning that the addition of a major medical school will greatly strengthen Las Vegas’ already expanding healthcare environment.

The Future of Las Vegas Healthcare

Las Vegas’ healthcare professionals also understand the need to continually evaluate and improve services in the greater area. Las Vegas Heals is a nonprofit organization founded by medical professionals aimed at improve access and delivery of healthcare throughout Southern Nevada.

Their efforts include fundraising to improve access to healthcare for underprivileged individuals, sponsoring professional development for practitioners, and recruiting and retaining physicians within the Las Vegas area.

Ultimately, while Las Vegas continues to expand as many people choose the city as an ideal spot to retire or begin a new career, residents can rest assured that the medical community will continue to grow as well.

With many hospitals and medical centers in Las Vegas and its surrounding communities combined with the recent addition of a prominent medical school, residents will find a number of options for quality healthcare and a system similar to that of virtually any growing city within the United States.

*This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide medical adivce or healthcare advice.

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