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11/14/2007 1:58:00 PM
Nursing shortage not a problem - MedCath
Andraya Whitney
Miner Staff Writer

The nation is in the grips of a major nursing shortage, but MedCath Inc.'s plans for a second hospital in Kingman provide for recruiting measures to combat the problem.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, "[t]he United States is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is expected to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows."

Additionally, the organization stated on its Web site (www.aacn.nche.edu) that nursing schools "are struggling to expand enrollment levels to meet the rising demand for nursing care."

In a Tuesday presentation of MedCath's plans at an event sponsored by Residents Against Irresponsible Development, David Stepelevich, MedCath's director of projects of facilities, said his company plans to recruit heavily from other MedCath hospitals and areas of the country to staff the Hualapai Mountain Medical Center. Stepelevich said there might be families who live in Arizona whose children want to move near them, and MedCath "has the ability to recruit from other areas, not just from Kingman. This is a great area to live in." He said the company also participates in educational programs for younger students to increase interest in the health care field.

MedCath, a North Carolina-based company, plans to construct the new hospital in the Kingman Crossing North area, south of Airway Avenue. The facility is designed to house 105 hospital beds; 72 would be operational at the facility's opening. Space for 33 more beds would be made available on the building's fourth floor when the space is needed.

The emergency department would house 22 beds immediately upon opening.

Jay Hornung, vice president of design and construction, said his company's research anticipates 5 to 8 percent growth in the Kingman each year for the next several years. He said this growth will require 219 more hospital beds by 2010.

Although HMMC currently is designed for 105 beds, Hornung said MedCath has planned the siting of the building to allow future growth at the back of the facility. Future plans may also include a second bed-only tower, which would be built no higher than the currently planned 72-foot four-story tower.

MedCath went before the city Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday with a rezone request on the 31-acre parcel from residential to regional commercial.

After a brief presentation from staff, the Commission unanimously recommended that City Council approve the request.

Although several concerns were noted regarding fire response time and the potential effect of a 50-foot tower at the site on future airport expansion, comments on the project were encouraging.

RAID President Mike Bihuniak voiced support on behalf of his group, and Commission Chairwoman Dorian Trahan noted her constituents' support as a fix to the overcrowding of current medical facilities in Kingman.





Reader Comments

Posted: Thursday, November 15, 2007
Article comment by: Pamm Burdett

That was really not an answer. Sure, recruit from their other sites.

Bottom line is that they will be recruiting from outside the country.

Even if they get suitable staff from the US, what does Kingman have that will keep them and their spouses? What assurances does Kingman have that there will be the best of the best?

I agree that competition is a good thing, I just want it to be the best form of competition not the only competition.

I also ask about a facility basically run by physicians. Has anyone looked at oversight? What will be the quality control? If something happens, who will investigate the issue? Who will decide the responsibility? Will it be the board or the physicians themselves? Will it be an outside entity?

Please, please, please ask these questions. For lay people this in an onerous task. Please NEVER fall into the trap that physicians are all powerful and can police their own. Physicians are mortals. They make mistakes just like all of us. People on Boards need to be aware of this and honor their responsibilities.

Please don't sacrifice the need for competition for quality of cre.

Please look at what you all have, the community needs as well as the responsibilities of governing boards.

Please NEVER appprove an entity based on simply economics





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