Hospital profits up in cities, down in many rural areas

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

The report Tuesday from the state Health Care Financial Analysis Unit shows the ''Big Six'' hospitals in Reno and Las Vegas had a combined $48.9 million operating profit. Small urban hospitals made $17.4 million, and rural hospitals had an overall loss of $3.1 million.

Combining those three figures produces a statewide net operating revenue total of just over $63 million. That's up 14.7 percent from $55.1 million statewide in fiscal 1998.

The most profitable hospital in the state last year was Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, accounting for $23.1 million of the total for ''Big Six'' hospitals. Valley also reported fiscal 1999 revenues per admitted patient of $7,548 and profits per admission of $1,028.

Other big hospitals in southern Nevada, in order of profits, included: Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center with $8.9 million in net income, $6,726 in revenues per admitted patient, and $194 in profits per admission; University Medical Center with $7.4 million in net income, $8,613 in revenues per admitted patient, and $194 in profits per admission; and Desert Springs Hospital with $2 million in net income, $6,573 in revenues per admitted patient, and $116 in profits per admission.

In northern Nevada, Washoe Medical Center in Reno reported $3.9 million in net income, $7,747 in revenues per admission and a per-admission profit of $158.

Saint Mary's in Reno listed $3.6 million in net income, revenues per admission of $7,917 and a per-admission profit of $209.

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

-SOUTHERN NEVADA: $9.4 million profit for Lake Mead Hospital; a $467,594 profit for Boulder City Hospital; $1.4 million profit for St. Rose Dominican Hospital; $3.9 million profit for MountainView Hospital; and a loss of $1.9 million for Summerlin Hospital.

-NORTHERN NEVADA: $3 million profit for Carson-Tahoe Hospital; $1.5 million profit for Northern Nevada Medical Center; and a loss of $378,399 for Incline Village Health Center.

-RURAL: A loss of $1.4 million for Battle Mountain General; $2.7 million profit for Churchill Community Hospital; $2.7 million profit for Elko General; a $365,695 loss for Grover C. Dils Medical Center; a $739,318 loss for Humboldt General; a $260,333 loss for Mt. Grant General; a $2.6 million loss for Nye Regional Medical Center; a $1.1 million loss for Pershing General; an $87,049 profit for South Lyon Medical Center, and a $2.1 million loss for William B. Ririe Hospital in Ely.