Carson Tahoe to celebrate 75 years and help kids

Characteristic of its history, Carson Tahoe Health is celebrating 75 years of operations Sept. 12 by focusing on the needs of others.

From 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Carson Tahoe will be hosting an anniversary celebration and raffle-ticket fundraiser at the Regional Medical Center, 1600 Medical Parkway.

“One hundred percent of raffle ticket sales go to the CTH Healing our Kids crusade,” according to the local health care network. “Together, we can make a profound difference in the lives of our youth.”

With the help of Carson City Toyota, raffle entrants could win $15,000 or a new car. The celebration is a free community event and will feature a cake and ice cream social.

Carson Tahoe started as a county-owned hospital with 10 beds off Fleischmann Way in 1949. In 1968, the second hospital along Mountain Street was opened. Some residents still call the second building the old hospital.

In the 1990s, the vision of a new medical campus emerged. Carson Tahoe eventually became a not-for-profit organization, and by 2005, the 352,000-square-foot Regional Medical Center known today opened with 144 acute care beds. The center transformed north Carson economically. The health care network now has multiple facilities regionally and employs more than 2,000 people, according to Carson Tahoe President and CEO Michelle Joy.

Joy recently told the Appeal the history of Carson Tahoe is one of growing in tandem with the community, evaluating and adjusting services based on health needs. In 2017, for example, CTH opened the Mallory Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which sees upward of 1,500 patient visits a year for suicidal ideation, psychotic episodes and substance abuse problems.

Mallory only treats adults, though, and CTH officials recognized the need for similar services for juveniles, especially following the pandemic. This year, CTH secured $3.5 million in federal funds sub-awarded through the state of Nevada to retrofit existing buildings on Fleischmann Way.

The project includes 10 beds in the old hospital facility for youth inpatient behavioral health; 12 beds for a separate youth crisis stabilization center next to Mallory; outpatient offices and two mobile care units to serve throughout the region.

“As we look out over those next 10 years, the top priority that continues to rise is the behavioral health piece,” Joy said.

CTH is eyeing a brand-new facility to serve youth, a project previously estimated to cost $65 million. But as Joy pointed out, when a need has presented itself in Carson City, the community has rallied.

For information or to purchase raffle tickets, visit https://www.carsontahoe.com/healingourkids.html.