More patients visiting the new hospital

In its first month of operation, Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center averaged 108 patient visits a day and 2,809 patients were admitted to the emergency room. And many got it right the first time.

Some patients first visited the old hospital on Fleischmann Way for emergency treatment, confused about the new location of the hospital at 1600 Medical Parkway.

Others made it to the right street in north Carson City, but then mistakenly went to the Sierra Surgery & Imaging building, at 1400 Medical Parkway.

Jeanne Corbit, medical center spokeswoman, said there have been some cases of patients arriving at the wrong place for emergency medical care, despite the publicity blitz for several months before the Dec. 3 opening of the medical center.

Elective surgery patients and birthing mothers were informed by their primary care doctor about the hospital move. Some even toured the hospital beforehand.

Doctors performed 268 surgeries in the first month the medical center was open. So far 78 babies have been born in the new hospital. The emergency room averaged about 340 more patient visits than the old hospital.

"It's hard to say exactly why our volumes - namely our emergency volumes - have increased," said Kevin Stansbury, chief operating officer for Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare. "It could be related to a variety of factors, such as weather or the fact that it's flu season. It's relatively common for new hospitals to see higher volumes after opening related to patients and physicians wanting to 'try out' the new facility. While we expected some increase, we've been somewhat surprised with how busy we have been in the emergency room."

Heart surgery, a new service offered at the medical center, should begin at the end of this month. The state is starting the licensure process this week. It should take about 14 days to complete.

Parking continues to be a challenge. Stansbury said about 80 parking spaces will be added as soon as the weather allows.

-- Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.