UMC chief urges closing rehab center

University Medical Center aims to take a small bite from its growing debt by closing a physical rehabilitation center in North Las Vegas.

Kathy Silver, the hospital's chief executive, recommended Thursday that the county close Rancho Rehab, a physical therapy clinic on Rancho Drive, south of Craig Road.

Closing the clinic would save $1.4 million, partly by eliminating 38 jobs, Silver told Clark County commissioners in a special meeting.

The hospital's deficit has ballooned to more than $90 million. This year, $60 million of it was paid for with tax dollars from the county's general fund. Next year, an estimated $65 million from the fund will be needed.

Commissioners will discuss whether to close the clinic in the coming weeks. Most of the clinic's employees would be transferred to the hospital, Silver said, noting that more than 200 UMC jobs have been left vacant to cut costs.

The Rancho Quick Care center, housed in a different building, would be unaffected for now, Silver said.