State mental health officials have announced who will run the newly opened Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital.
Dr. K.C. Nair, a board certified psychiatrist and family practice physician from Michigan, begins his duties as both medical director and administrator in mid-October, said Dr. David Rosin, medical director of the state's Mental Health Division.
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Nair, who could not be reached by telephone last week, is still residing in Michigan.
Nair was officially hired at the end of August after a nationwide search for Jonna Triggs' replacement.
Rosin said the Mental Health Division received numerous applicants for the job, including those from out-of-state professionals.
Only four were interviewed.
Nair stood out because of his medical and business background, Rosin said.
"With his MD and MBA, he's well qualified to be the authoritative figure for this hospital,'' Rosin said. "The MBA is important because he has the business background and understands budget issues. He's a mature and thoughtful person and we feel very confident that he will do a good job.''
Rosin said Nair has a private practice in Michigan.
Nair will wear two hats, one as administrator and the other as medical director of Rawson-Neal.
As of Thursday, Rosin said, most patients from Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services have been relocated to the new facility. Some patients still remain in another location and won't be relocated until after another wing of the hospital opens. That is expected sometime in November.
Last week, Carlos Brandenburg, administrator of the state Mental Health and Development Services, told legislators that 36 of the 86 beds in the hospital aren't going to be used due to lack of staffing.
He received approval from the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee to use $1.1 million of his agency's budget to fill some vacancies with contract employees. The committee also agreed to spend $3.6 million to allow nonprofit WestCare to provide care for 25 mental health patients a day in Southern Nevada.
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