Carlsbad Medical Center Remains Steadfast in Service to Southeastern New Mexico

7/19/2021

I write today with hope for the future and gratitude for the resilience of our provider team at Carlsbad Medical Center. The pandemic has demonstrated how interconnected we all are, the impact each one of us can have and the benefit of working together for a common cause. We care deeply about our community and remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver safe, quality healthcare services.

The arc of life is always present in a hospital, but its frailty has been very clear this past year. Thousands of patients received the medical care they needed thanks to our physicians, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, lab techs, housekeepers, food service workers and other providers who have worked tirelessly to maintain a safe environment. Our family of caregivers put aside their personal fears and concerns and came to help every single day, with bravery and courage.

At Carlsbad Medical Center in 2020, more than 400 babies took their first breaths and we celebrated with their moms. More than 21,000 patients walked away in better shape than when they came in –with less pain following a joint replacement, a heart beating in rhythm after receiving a pacemaker or a cardiac intervention, or a smile of relief when their screening mammogram or colonoscopy was clear.

With pride and relief we cheered dozens of patients who left for home after beating COVID-19. But there have been times of sadness too, as our caregivers helped patients transition at the end of life and comforted the loved ones who grieve for their loss.

Helping people get well and live healthier is rewarding work, and we are grateful for the trust every patient places in us. And we feel the support of the community as you’ve extended your thanks and encouragement through prayers, donations of personal protective equipment (PPE), meals for our care teams and more.

Led by a local administration and advisory board of community leaders and physicians, we are putting our resources toward increased medical services, facilities and technologies that are important to our patients, including the addition of SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy), which gives many cancer patients the convenient option of staying right here in Carlsbad for treatment with our Board Certified Radiation Oncologist. We continue to improve access to both specialists and primary care providers, and many of our physicians are now offering telemedicine, making it easier than ever to see the doctor, even from the comfort of home.

We value our relationship with the community of Carlsbad and Eddy County. The more than $1.5 million in taxes we paid last year support critical infrastructure such as first responders, schools and roads. Wages and benefits for our provider team generate buying power for local goods and services and help drive the local economy. And we deliver care for our most vulnerable residents, last year providing more than $26 million of charity and uncompensated care.

Hope is on the horizon as COVID-19 vaccinations are underway and our state has reached a 60% vaccination rate, making it possible for us to once again gather, support local businesses and enjoy all that our area has to offer. We are also extremely pleased to be able to open our facility to visitors once again and welcome back our volunteers, who selflessly give their time to help make our hospital a better place.

In my first few months here in Carlsbad, I have seen what a great team we have at CMC – a team that cares deeply about our patients and our community – and I look forward to working together with our staff, our board and our community leaders to continue to grow our hospital to reach our full potential.

Nick Arledge is the Chief Executive Officer at Carlsbad Medical Center

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