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Two months after a worker was found dead inside one of its cryochambers, a Henderson cryotherapy spa appears to be closed for good…On Dec. 10, a notice was posted on the front doors of Rejuvenice, 8846 S. Eastern Ave., saying the spa was more than $3,000 behind on its rent…Rejuvenice opened in July. And on Oct. 20, worker Chelsea Ake-Salvacion, 24, was found dead inside one of the spa's cryochambers… Ake-Salvacion's family hired the Las Vegas-based Richard Harris Law firm and the Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney law firm in Reno to investigate how she became trapped inside the chamber. Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Administration office said it would not investigate because Ake-Salvacion died after business hours.

New residency programs to train doctors in Southern Nevada will be launched at four hospitals, Valley Health System officials announced Thursday…The programs at Centennial Hills, Desert Springs, Spring Valley and Summerlin hospitals include emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, psychiatry and the transitional year for residents preparing to enter a medical or surgical specialty…Coordinating the programs will be Dr. Andrew Eisen...has been named chief academic officer for the Valley Health System…The number of residency slots created by the eight programs has yet to be determined, but officials plan to have residents in family medicine, internal medicine and general surgery in place by July 1, 2017.

Medications won't work if patients don't take them…A national association of doctors this week urged physicians to order generic drugs whenever possible because patients are more likely to fill their prescriptions…Southern Nevada doctors and pharmacists say the report in the Annals of Internal Medicine reinforces what they've seen in their practices over the years…"Cost has a role, clearly, in this lack of adherence," said Dr. Scott Stolte, dean of the College of Pharmacy and a professor of pharmacy practice at Roseman University of Health Sciences…"Most of the time the generic drugs are just as effective as the trademark drugs," said Dr. James Anthony, a family practitioner and member of the Nevada State Board of Osteopathic Medicine. "They're more accepted than…they were 10 years ago."…Doctors say they prefer generic drugs because of the data showing patient outcomes improve, and the cost savings are an added benefit…"Not only are prescription-by-prescription costs going to be lower, but also the overall health care costs are going to be lower,"…

A judge has imposed severe sanctions on Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center for intentionally concealing evidence in a civil case filed by a patient who was sexually assaulted at the Las Vegas hospital in 2008…"Centennial failed to disclose relevant evidence that it knew it had a duty to disclose, caused extensive time to pass, and caused memories to fade," District Judge Richard Scotti wrote in a 39-page order…strikes Centennial's answer in the case — a move that establishes liability against the hospital. When the case goes to trial Jan. 4, Centennial will be allowed to defend itself only on the question of damages…"A party who engages in misconduct must suffer reasonable consequences," the judge wrote. "No party should be allowed to conceal evidence, and then suffer merely a monetary sanction, while being allowed to reap the tactical benefit of the loss of that evidence."…The plaintiff, who filed the case in 2009 as Jane Doe, was one of five female patients who were victimized by certified nursing assistant Steven Farmer.

As part of National Influenza Vaccination Week, December 6-12, 2015, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, government and health officials will join community partners to raise awareness about the benefits of flu vaccination and honor local flu vaccination heroes during a press conference and awards ceremony. Flu vaccination heroes to be honored include:

• Nevada State Assemblyman, James Oscarson, for his efforts to provide access to flu vaccinations for the citizens of rural communities in district 36.
• Joyce Goedeke, Vice President of Marketing/Public Relations for Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center, for her leadership on the Immunize Nevada flu taskforce and for hosting a flu clinic at the Southern Hills Annual Balloon Festival.
• Melissa Shake, Pharmacy Manager and Immunizations Trainer for Walgreens, for her leadership on the Immunize Nevada flu taskforce and dedication to community flu protection by coordinating free flu vaccinations across southern Nevada through Walgreens’ national flu vaccine voucher program.
• Tavia Campbell, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder for Walls 360, Inc., for her sponsorship and donation for the 2015-2016 Immunize Nevada flu campaign.

WHEN: Friday, December 11th, 10 to 11 a.m.
WHERE: East Las Vegas Community and Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas

New numbers show Nevadans have been slow to jump into the state's health insurance exchange…Department of Health and Human Services reported Wednesday that 23,248 Nevadans bought coverage through Nevada Health Link in the first month of open enrollment, from Nov. 1 through Saturday…That's roughly half of the 40,285 residents who bought a plan through the exchange in the first month of sign-ups a year ago…Federal officials said enrollment should pick up as the Dec. 15 deadline nears to buy a plan with a Jan. 1 start date...Consumers without coverage in place by then face a federal tax for going without health insurance.

The battle over maintaining life support for a 20-year-old Las Vegas woman continues this week in Reno. It focuses on the question of when is a person considered dead…The unknown is whether doctors for Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno will continue to try to pull the plug on Aden Hailu, who sought treatment for abdominal pain in April and suffered catastrophic lack of oxygen and brain damage during an exploratory surgery…An attorney for Hailu's family said the next step must be to develop a plan of care…"There is hope that she will regain consciousness," said David O'Mara, the…attorney representing, Hailu's father…The state Supreme Court ruled last week that the standards used by the hospital to make a determination of brain death might not satisfy state law. Hailu was declared brain dead at the hospital May 28 after doctors concluded that she was unresponsive, lacked brain activity as determined by reflexes and eye movement, and could not breathe on her own.

Three Southern Nevada physicians were taken off regulatory probation Friday, including a Las Vegas orthopedic surgeon accused of throwing drug-fueled sex parties at his Henderson home and at the Trump Hotel…Dr. Andrew Martin declined to answer any questions after his appearance before the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners at the Westgate…The board also lifted probation for Dr. Sean Su, a family practitioner barred by the board from performing cosmetic procedures, and Dr. Arlyn Valencia, a neurologist who failed drug tests.

This is an important week for the University of Nevada School of Medicine…officials will submit the school's self-study, an overview of all aspects of their programs…a key document in the effort to earn accreditation…The self-study is a structured review of all aspects of UNLV's proposed program, including what curriculum, resources, faculty and facilities will be needed. The document is an initial step in determining whether the proposed medical school meets standards for structure, function and performance…Dr. Barbara Atkinson, dean of the planned medical school, said the 34-page executive summary of the self-study will be available to the public online after her team submits the document to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (sponsored by the Assn of Amer. Med. Colleges and the Council on Med. Education of the Amer. Med. Assn) UNLV and Roseman University of Health Sciences both are seeking accreditation for planned medical schools. Each would have the capacity to teach 60 students each year, starting in 2017. Roseman officials submitted their self-study over the summer…

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