Hospital cuts mean it's time for community to come together

The news that Carson-Tahoe Regional Healthcare is laying off more than 50 people caught the region by surprise, coming just six months after it opened one of the most impressive structures in Carson City.

It's a business decision, but it's one that will have a significant impact on our community.

The reasons given were cost-cutting after a major consolidation last year of the hospital and rehabilitation services. Some departments of the hospital haven't had enough customers to justify the number of employees.

Hospital officials said many of the cuts would come in areas that will not affect care given to patients. But the truth is that there's no way for any business, much less a hospital, to lay off that many employees without having an impact on the services offered to the public. In this case, it means at least the loss of the mental health services at the $132 million medical center at the north entrance to the city.

That's tough news for the families who depended on those services, and it's tough news for our community. Mental health services in Northern Nevada are already difficult to come by and it's unlikely there are enough other facilities to absorb those patients.

There aren't going to be any simple answers, and that's why it's critical that city leaders get involved to figure them out. Are there ways the community can help create a climate conducive to not only mental health service providers but other practitioners who can thrive outside the hospital?

It needs to be a priority. Carson City can focus forever on building its tax base, but a community that can't offer basic health care services will never rise above bush league.