13 Action News has learned of a mistake that happened in the immediate response to the tragic 1 October shooting.
Rose Janise, the mother of surviving shooting victim Rylie Golgart, says the error proved to be a blessing.
Golgart was shot in the lower back during the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
Janise says Golgart's father drove her to Valley Hospital Medical Center, a hospital they settled on after being turned away at UMC.
"They kind of waved him on saying that it was full, go to Valley, which was right next door," Janise said.
It appears Golgart was turned away because of a mistake.
Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell says UMC's emergency room had been put on "internal disaster" status, something a hospital source tells us is an alert that there could be staffing and/or supply shortages.
He says a dispatcher with the Alarm Office misinterpreted what that meant.
"For about 15 minutes that message somehow morphed into the hospital was closed, but it was quickly recognized and corrected," Cassell said. "I believe the statement was 'UMC is out of beds.'"
Cassell says he doesn't think the miscommunication had any effect on treating victims.
Whatever happened, Janise says she couldn't be happier that her daughter ended up at Valley.
"I honestly believe it was an angel that was there that made that happen because that was the best thing that could've happened for us as a family and especially for Rylie," Janise said.
UMC said in a statement,
"Communication is always challenging during any mass casualty, and in the fog of war, can always be improved. The UMC Trauma Center was of course open that night, and in fact never “closes.” UMC cared for those who self-transported and those who came to us via ambulance. The UMC Trauma Center doors, literally, remained wide open, as we had gurneys set up in front of our Trauma Center and were triaging patients in the ambulance bay outside of our hospital. The fact remains that every single patient who arrived alive at UMC that night was treated and is now back home with their families; and every single person who worked that historical night, throughout the valley, put their heart and soul into saving every life before them, no person in the entire Las Vegas medical community could have worked harder or more thoughtful than they did that night."
