18 Thursday, July 31, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
Food, Health and Fitness
Carma Kreitler, cruising along from sea to shining desert
by L H. Stronach
Gazette Staff
Carma Kreitler, executive director, of Pahrump Center for
Healthcare, was instrumental in organizing and training staff when
she began working at Pahrump's
new medical center in 1995. Janu-
ary 1997, Arcon Healthcare as-
sumed the operation because she
loves what she does, the people
and Pahrump she stated.
As a child, Kreitler had a role
model that influenced her career
choice. At the age of twelve,
Kreitler attended summer camp and
was quite impressed with the
minister's wife who was the camp
nurse. "She was kind, had time to
listen to you, compassionate and
gentle. She was quite a lady!"
Carma Kxeitler Kreitler, 60, was born in Cen-
ter, Neb., spent her childhood on a
farm and worked in the family grocery store from age eight. She
graduated from Orchard High School, Orchard, Neb. in 1954.
From 1954-58 she attended the University of Nebraska College of
Nursing receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. During
1958-61, when her husband Frank attended medical school, Kreitler
taught nursing at St. Catherine's School of Nursing in Omaha.
In 1961, Kreitler and her husband moved to California for his
internship. Subsequently, he went into private practice in Costa
Mesa, Calif. until 1980. The early years were spent close to home
caring for sons Jeff and Tim and daughter, Carleen. "I raised a family
and helped in my husband's office. At the time it was really important
that I was at home when the kids were growing up."
1967 brought an exciting new hobby to the Kreitlers, that was
flying. She and Frank, attended ground school pilot training at
Orange County Community College. Her husband received a multi-
engine instrument rating. "We had our own plane and that's how we
flew back and forth to the grandparents in the summer time."
When the children no longer needed full time mothering, Kreifler
did critical care nursing in Huntington Beach. From 1980-87 she was
Director of Nursing in Hawthorne, NV.
In 1987 Kreitler's nursing career began a new dimension when
she began seven years with Princess Cruise Lines. The job required
spending three months at sea and two months at home. In 1993, she
took a position in Los Angeles as an Assistant to the Chief Medical
cruise line. "The nice thing about it was that Frank
to sea with me for two weeks or so. The family could come
thirty days at a time if they wished."
found an interesting aspect of working and traveling
aboard ship was, "the ability to see all the differem cultures. ,I
traveled all over the world. I had a chance to compare types of
medicial practices and hospitals in all parts of the world. And find
how wonderful it was to get back to the United States."
When asked which country had the biggest disparity in how the
U.S. delivers medicine compared to that country she replied, "I
would say the Islands of the Pacific, probably."
Kreitler went on to say, "The quality of doctors there is very good
but the fact is they don't have any facilities or medicine to speak of
compared to what we have. If they have an X-ray machine it's
something that we would have phased out in the U.S. back in the
forties. They do a lot more medicine like we used to practice in the
U.S. in the forties or fifties whe n you looked, listened and felt rather
than X-rays and fancy tests."
As for there being a difference between rural nursing and nursing
on board ship Kreitler stated, "No, it's very similar. You have to be
self-sufficient. You have to have all the supplies you could need for
whatever might happen."
Would she return to cruise nursing? Kreitler stated, "Basically,
Idon't think there's any going back. Once you leave ajobor complete
something and move on if you were to return it's never quite the
same. I feel I did everything I wanted to do and felt it was time to
move on."
Kreitler has specialized training in many areas and is working on
her masters degree at the University of Phoenix.
When considering leaving Princess Cruise Lines, Kreitler had
planned to return to the Nevada State Employment system. "I had
met a couple that were passengers on the ship, who were extremely
happy and excited about Pahrump." stated Kreitler, "Basically, I had
returned to Nevada to get more time in the retirement system because
I had been in the State Employee Retirement Plan."
"Prior to taking the position with Pabrnmp Medical Center in
1995, I was scheduled to spend one summer in the Mediterranean.
I even have the contract to prove it. I framed it." said Kreitier.
"My friend kept sending me newspapers telling me about jobs in
Nevada. I saw the St. Rose ad and thought it sounded real enticing
and became more excited about it as I interviewed. I took the job
even though it wasn't in the state employment system."
When presented with the option of relaxing in the Mediterranean
versus coming to work in the desert Kreitler said, "There is no
question. I love the desert. The desert and I agree with each other."
She loves riding motorcycles, dirt bikes, bicycles and driving her
four wheel drive pickup towards Mr. Charleston, which supports her
statement, that she and the desert agree with each other.
Kreifler usually rides, "Anywhere, I can find a road to drive, i go
up Wheeler Pass to that first little canyon."
In addition to riding two and four wheel vehicles she loves
animals, camping and gardening. Since purchasing a south valley
home on two and oue-half acres in 1996, Kreitler has begun the
arduous task of eleanng the property. I have a lot of trees. About
10,000 mesquite trees! I have the scratches to prove it" she said.
Kreitler's opinion of managed care plans is, "It's not ideal. People
don't get what they pay for. It's a wonderful plan as long as you're
healthy." she said, "There are a lot of good doctors in managed care.
It's just that you have difficulty accessing them especially if you live
in the rural areas.
"The way they make money is to capitate the plan and pay less
money. (Capitation is a plan where health care providers contract
with the managed care or health maintenance organization for a
lump sum per year for each patient's care.) Therefore, you can
provide the service in the rural area but you don't get paid for it and
the people are still forced to go to the city."
As for medicine in the future Kreitler stated, "IfI had the answer,
I probably wouldn't be working for a living. Personally, I feel that
we'll see it condnue towards home care. Less hospital stays and
shorter hospital stays. More outpatient services and more managed
home care."
The future for Arcon, a dynamic young company formed in 1995
to specialize in health care for rural areas, is showing positive signs
in what has developed less than a year after taking over management
from St. Rose Dominican Hospital.
Kreitler stated, "I believe that Arcon has the right principles and
the right methods for dealing with health care in the rural areas. They
are strictly a rural provider. I think we will see other companies
patterned after their concept."
Arcon has planned a number of changes, the first stage is the
conversion of the existing space to an imaging center. The imaging
center includes, CAT scan, expanded radiology and fluoroscopy, a
larger mammography room and echocardiogram/ultrasound.
In the second stage, which is slated to start Noember 1, they will
be expanding the primary care offices in front and the ambulatory
services should be completed by January 1, 1998.
Kreitler explained that there will, a capability of doing "most
kind of outpatient surgery that is being done around the country."
There will be an anesthesiologist including a pain management
specialist on a monthly basis to start. Specialist groups chosen
through an IPA (Independent Practice Association) are in place and
will be announced soon.
As for directing a facility from the start, Kreitler stated, "I guess
I'm a work-a-holic. I still love people and I love nursing. I believe in
what we're doing."
Kreitler feels Pahrump definitely needs a dialysis center. "The
biggest thing I have been aware of since I came here is for dial,sis
locally. Arcon is working with several groups trying to get someone
to come either joint venture or with their facility on the campus, or
through the hospital district."
Regarding health care in the rural area, Kreitler said, "I think w
need a lot more wellness training in the rural areas. People have
alway s had to take more of an active part in their health because it
was such a distance to get treatment."
In a discussion about insurance reimbursement and choice of
physicians Kreitler stated, "I think there's some unfairness of the ;
reimbursement in the rural areas considering the difficulty getting
doctors and health care workers. There should be more choice in the
rural areas but there isn't because most doctors don't want to go out
there."
Comparing medicine from the early 60s to what we have in the
90s, Kreitler stated, "It's changed from a true hospital based system
where hospitalization was easy to come by and length of stay was
longer, to where there's a very short length of stay."
She feels that there is "Much more responsibility for families
with older parents because they're being returned to their homes
much sooner. A hip replacement used to be a week to ten days and
now they are being returned home in 4-5 days."
Kreitler feels that the health problems in today's youth aren't "any
different than it was twenty years ago. Today's youth as youth in
general implies that 'I'm indestructible and it won't happen to me. I
don't think that's any different than it was twenty years ago."
Considering middle age health problems, Kreifler stated "Middle
age probably has the best health care because most of them are
working and insured."
She stated, "Pneumonia (affects older people more). The bugs
have become more selective, I think, and with more antibiotics you
can see acute illness at any age."
Kreitler feels that young people choosing the medical arena have
many choife s such as sales, teaching, public relations and quality
assurance. "I would say their opportunities are unlimited. Statistics
will bear out that medicine will be the main employer for the next
several years. There is no shortage of people being sick."
Regarding a 'commuter' marriage, Kreitler said, "My husband
comes up from Palos Verde, Calif. and visits and I go down there
once in awhile. It works for us. I'm lucky that he's very interested in
my happiness. We both work very hard."
Dr. Kreitler has been attempting to end the life of commuting by
moving to Nevada. He has applied for licensure in Nevada, possibly
geared toward working in Pabrump.
In ten years Kreitler sees herself, "On a beach in the Caribbean."
She continued, "1 plan to work another five years. I want to grow with
this facility and with Arco." Then she intends to spend, "Six months
in Pabrump and six months in the Caribbean."
• As for her accomplishments she said, "Three wonderful kids and
a marriage of forty years. A very satisfying career in nursing. It's
been my privilege to be with a lot of wonderful people."
When asked, "What else can you tell us about Carma Kreitler, she
said, "She's pretty humble as you can tell by my office (meaning
sharing her 8 X 10 office with her secretary). It's a real blessing that
I have been able to have good health, do my job, use my education
to help people and have a wonderful support system of family and
friends."
