Susan Davila, chief executive officer of Desert View Regional Medical Center, had a lot of good news to share about the hospital at Monday's Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Davila told chamber members about the continued efforts to increase the 24-bed hospital's services so that local residents will find it increasingly unnecessary to make the long drive to Las Vegas to receive medical treatment.

A new vascular surgeon is being sought for the hospital's surgical team, and the obstetrics and gynecology options for residents have expanded with the addition of Dr. Virginia Burnett, who began working for the hospital in November.

Hoping to add to the hospital's 159 employees, the CEO added, "We are working very hard to get a cardiologist in town."

She said the hospital had contacted a local cardiologist in hopes of adding to the staff as well as three different cardiologist groups in Las Vegas.

In spite of lacking a doctor, however, the hospital's cardiac service will increase with the addition of its new, soon-to-be-installed nuclear camera.

"What that will allow us to do for the community is, we'll be able to do a lot more testing here," Davila explained.

Also in the "very near future," Davila said, residents could have orthopedic services at the hospital.

She said she's contacted two orthopedic groups in Las Vegas who expressed interest in setting up a clinic in Pahrump and performing procedures at the facility.

Davila added that a Las Vegas cancer group had contacted her as well and said it would be interested in setting up a place to perform chemotherapy and oncology procedures.

"Everything is going together," Davila said. "It's a very, very slow process, and we've had some growing pains we've had to get over. I just ask that you be patient with us, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me."

The administrator emphasized the need for feedback, pointing out that, "if there's things out there that are negative -- if I don't know about them -- we can't try to attempt to fix them."

Things have improved on the insurance front as well.

Davila said the hospital now includes all major insurance groups with the exception of United, although she did say the company guaranteed a contract will be in place by March 1.

"We will continue expanding to get more services here so that we don't have to go over the hill to get our health care needs, because I think that its very important that we stay in town and support all of our local businesses," Davila said.