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EMERGENCY SERVICES Dr. David A. Silverberg Orthopedic surgeon; medical director, Orthopedic Trauma Service, Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center Lead surgeon, Silver State Orthopedics D r. David Silverberg has put his extraordinary talents to use in the Valley, not only in private practice, but also in Sunrise Hospital's Level II Trauma Center. Amidst some of the most demanding trauma cases around, he works miracles, great and small – helping bones to regenerate, collaborating with doctors in small towns with few resources and assisting those who can't pay him back with more than a thank you. He sees trauma as a creative opportunity. "Oftentimes you cannot read in a book or somebody cannot teach you, how to address a particular fracture or surgery, because it's trauma," he stated. "And no two broken bones are really the same. You have to use your creative talents to repair a lot of these cases." But for him, the lives he helps salvage are more than "cases" – even when it's come down to donating his own time and resources. While he is supported to be on call, it doesn't make up for the six to nine months that he often invests in care for a patient who just can't pay. Twenty to 30 percent of his office staff time, he estimated, goes into helping people above and beyond what his office provides. That may mean finding a piece of durable medical equipment, assisting victims of violent crimes or helping people get back on their feet financially. Approximately 50 percent of his patients are indigent. About half of those patients request help from his office. He and his staff try to go out of their way to make people whole again, he admitted. "One of the most gratifying things I get out of my practice is, when I do have somebody that's suffering, that cannot afford to pay, and then you get a thank-you," he said. "And you know that's all they can afford. It means a lot when we do receive those thank yous." But that doesn't scratch the surface of Sil- 20130415_VI01_I.indd 13 verberg's work. Case in point: the 23-yearold motorcyclist who'd been in an accident and landed in the emergency room. The motorcycle had pinned him, crushing his leg so that bone came through skin. Silverberg found a way to salvage the leg, helping the patient grow new bone to fill in a gap. It took several surgeries. While he's always passionate about everything from shoulder reconstruction to helping bone fractures heal, he's also busy building bridges with other communities. Both in his private practice and through Sunrise Hospital, he engages in a no-questions-asked referral policy. It allows patients to be referred from smaller, underserved communities such as Bullhead City, Ariz., and Laughlin, without cutting through loads of red tape. "I've developed relationships with several of the doctors in these smaller towns to take care of some of their complex injuries that they may not be capable of taking care of, or want to take care of," he explained. But his phone rings for plenty of other reasons, and is always on, even when he's not on call. His leadership duties as medical director at Sunrise include organizing other physicians; dealing with questions, complaints and quality care issues; and of course, putting in his time on call. He also helps coordinate with other disciplines, including plastic surgery, general surgery and neurosurgery. The pay-off of rendering so much service in a region that desperately needs it: an array of new friendships for him and his family. He moved to Las Vegas in 2003, drawn by the climate, the city's growth – and the small-town feeling plus large population. "You're welcome when you come to this big city, as compared to other big cities," he observed. "There are no closed groups here. Not too many people are born and raised in Las Vegas. Therefore, you have an opportunity to meet all kinds of people." —G.R.D. You care for the sick. Let us take care of your financial needs. There are many concerns today when it comes to the health of the banking industry and your financial future. There is a financially strong and secure local bank that is committed to our community and ready to serve you with a highly 'personalized and private' banking experience. Meadows Bank offers a full suite of deposit and loan products including: Conventional/SBA 504 and 7(a) Loans Office Buildout Loans Medical/Dental Equipment Financing Practice Purchase Loans Online Banking /Cash Management Lock Box/Remote Deposit Capture All deposits FDIC insured to the maximum limits 702.471.2265 | www.meadowsbank.com 4/11/13 3:18:32 PM