Valley Hospital Breaks Ground on 20-Bed Observation Unit
Local officials joined Valley Hospital executives to celebrate the groundbreaking of a 20-bed observation nursing unit. The unit, which will be adjacent to the 54-bed emergency department, will be for patients who need additional evaluation for a specific medical condition or diagnosis before they are either discharged or admitted to the hospital, explained Claude Wise, CEO/Managing Director of Valley Hospital. A dedicated observation unit also frees up emergency medicine beds for incoming and emergent cases.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, Las Vegas Councilman for Ward 1 Brian Knudsen, and UHS Vice President Karla Perez joined Wise, along with Valley Hospital Chief Operating Officer Jessica Hensler, Valley Health System Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan McBride, Valley Hospital Emergency Medical Director Dr. Jeff Davidson, Valley Hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Dost Wattoo, and Valley Hospital Director of Emergency and Critical Care Services, Jim Holtz, for a ceremonial dirt toss.
Valley Hospital, which is also a primary stroke center and accredited chest pain center, cares for over 50,000 residents and tourist annually. Located in the Las Vegas Medical District, the emergency department is part of local medical protocols to transport patients with chest pain, suspected large vessel occlusions, and stroke symptoms for advanced cardiovascular and neurological surgeries and procedures. In addition to caring for area residents, the emergency department team often cares for domestic and international tourists and professional athletes who live or compete in southern Nevada.
The new observation unit should be available for patients early third quarter 2020.