By HCA Healthcare Far West Division President Jackie Van Blaricum
Southern Nevada is at a defining moment. Our region continues to grow, diversify and attract new industries—and healthcare plays a critical role in that momentum. Beyond caring for patients, a strong healthcare system is foundational to economic development, workforce stability and long-term community resilience.
At HCA Healthcare, and across the Sunrise Health System, our mission is simple and deeply meaningful: above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. That mission comes to life every day across Southern Nevada, where nearly one million patients receive care annually at one of our 42 sites of care throughout the valley. From hospitals and freestanding emergency rooms to urgent care clinics and specialty services, our goal is to ensure world-class care is accessible, local and responsive to the needs of our community.
That reach has a significant economic footprint. Across Nevada, we employ nearly 8,000 colleagues, creating stable, high-quality jobs in a wide range of clinical, technical and support roles. Last year alone, we invested $190 million in capital projects locally—investments that strengthen infrastructure, support innovation and signal long-term confidence in Southern Nevada’s future.
Our vision in the Far West Division is to be the healthcare system of choice for patients, providers and colleagues. To achieve that, we focus on three key pillars: expanding access, driving innovation and developing the workforce of tomorrow.
First, access.
Developing and optimizing our network means meeting people where they are. By expanding points of care across the valley, we reduce barriers, shorten travel times and connect patients with world-class providers close to home. This commitment to keeping care local has guided the Sunrise Health System for more than 67 years.
It’s why Sunrise Children’s Hospital continues to set the standard for pediatric care, offering the most comprehensive services in Nevada and one of the largest congenital heart programs in the nation to treat the most complex and vulnerable patients. It’s also why we recently opened the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at MountainView Hospital—the first and only program of its kind in Nevada dedicated to treating blood cancers—and why we are exploring opportunities to expand cancer services to support even more patients statewide. When patients can receive advanced care without leaving the state, families stay together, costs are reduced and outcomes improve.
Second, innovation and operational excellence.
As healthcare evolves, so must the way we train and support our clinicians. Last fall, we opened the Center for Clinical Advancement, providing hands-on, simulation-based training so local caregivers can practice and refine lifesaving skills in a safe, high-tech environment. HCA Healthcare is also embracing artificial intelligence to improve nurse handoffs, identify gaps in care more quickly and streamline workflows—allowing clinicians to spend more time where it matters most: at the bedside with their patients.
Third, and perhaps most critical to Southern Nevada’s future, is workforce development.
A growing region needs a strong pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals. The Sunrise Health System operates one of the largest Graduate Medical Education programs in the state, training resident physicians who often choose to build their careers right here in Las Vegas. In 2024, we also opened Galen College of Nursing to help address the nursing shortage and create new pathways into healthcare careers for local students.
By investing in education, training and career advancement, we are not only strengthening our hospitals—we are strengthening Southern Nevada’s economy.
Healthcare may not always be the first industry people think of when discussing economic diversification, but it should be. A healthy community attracts businesses, supports families and fuels sustainable growth. We are proud to partner with organizations like LVGEA and others across the region who share a common goal: building a stronger, healthier Southern Nevada—today and for generations to come.
To learn more about HCA Healthcare visit https://www.hcahealthcare.com
