Around the State - January 2009

NEVADA BRIEFS

Hospitals’ Death Rates Improve

The annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study concluded that five Northern Nevada hospitals improved in seven out of eight categories. Nevada’s improvement rates still fall below the national average in numerous categories. Mortality rates nationally stand at 6.31 percent, Nevada is at 6.86 percent; but over the period between 2005-2007, the national rate improved by 12.99 percent while Nevada only improved by 6.24 percent.

Nevada Housing Market Sees 20 Year Lows

According to a Home Builders Research report only 180 new home building permits were issued in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and Clark County, the lowest monthly number since they tracked the market in 1988. Permit counts are down 58 percent since last year. Also at a twenty year low are new home sales. November 2007 saw 1,521 sales while November 2008 saw a mere 643 sales, a 47 percent decrease. Median home prices are down 8.2 percent ($22,288) from a year ago this December.

United Blood Services Opens Sparks Location

United Blood Services of Reno has a new Community Donation Center in Sparks. As the Baby Boomer population moves from being blood donors to becoming blood recipients, the demand for blood donations continues to rise across the nation. United Blood Services of Reno is the sole blood products supplier to 22 hospitals in Northern Nevada and needs approximately 150 blood donations every day to meet demand.

Nevada Signs Contract To Cut Utility Bills

The State Board of Examiners recently voted to contract the services of a Dallas-based firm that will find ways to cut the state’s utility bills. There are no reported upfront costs associated with the plan, as the firm’s fee is based on actual energy cost savings. The contract with LPB Energy Consulting is worth $10 million and runs through August 2012.