UNM Sandoval Regional reports Leapfrog grade improvement, seeks county nominee for hospital board seat

Kate Becker, chief executive officer for UNM Hospitals’ Sandoval campus, told the Sandoval County Board of County Commissioners on July 23 that Sandoval Regional Medical Center’s quality ratings and local services have improved and that the hospital needs the county’s help filling a vacant oversight seat.

Becker said Sandoval Regional earned a B from Leapfrog in spring 2025, up two letter grades since fall 2023, and credited both improvements in process measures and older outcome data rolling off the Leapfrog calculation for the rise. “In spring of 2025, Sandoval Regional got a B from LeapFrog,” Becker said. She also highlighted a medication-safety technology rollout, saying barcode medication administration helped that progress.

The report matters locally because it speaks to access and capacity at the county hospital, officials said. Becker told commissioners about trauma and behavioral-health services at SRMC and asked the commission to consider a nominee the hospital’s Board of Advisors proposed for a seat on the UNM Hospitals Board of Trustees.

Becker summarized several operational points and data. On trauma she said the hospital received a three‑year Level III trauma designation from the New Mexico Department of Health and that SRMC retains roughly 70% of trauma patients it receives: “About 70 percent on average of the patients that we’re seeing at SRMC, we are able to keep and treat there,” she said. Keeping patients in‑county, Becker said, reduces travel burdens for patients and follow‑up care.

On behavioral health, Becker described a steady increase in clinic visits and a new mobile behavioral‑response team launched in April that covers noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; the team is grant‑funded and will expand hours as staff are hired. She said clinicians are working with the Rio Rancho Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team, and that more than half of mobile‑team encounters did not result in hospital transport.

Becker briefed the commission on labor relations at the hospital: contracts with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and with the American Federation of Teachers are in place and include annual reopeners; the IAM agreement is effective through June 30, 2027, she said.

The hospital also has a governance matter before the commission: at integration UNM Hospitals set aside a Trustee seat to represent Sandoval County interests, and that seat is currently vacant after a recent resignation. Becker said the SRMC Board of Advisors recommended Eric Lujan as a nominee and that the county would need to name a Board of Advisors member who could in turn serve as a Trustee when appointed. “The Board of Advisors met about a month ago…and moved forward a recommendation that the commission consider Eric Lujan as a nominee for the UNM Hospital Board of Trustees,” Becker said.

Commissioners asked operational questions. Commissioner Juarez asked what UNM is doing to respond to rising behavioral‑health visits; Becker described efforts to expand the workforce by partnering with the UNM School of Medicine and training programs for addiction medicine, nursing and social work. Commissioner Jones asked whether SRMC was discussing direct clinical services with nearby tribal health providers; Becker said she was not aware of any active negotiations to provide clinical services directly to Santa Ana Pueblo at this time.

Becker also noted UNM’s indigent‑care program, UNM Care, serves under 5,000 people now but she said the hospital anticipates that number could grow substantially when state Medicaid changes take effect in December 2026. “We’re anticipating with the December 2026…that number will probably quadruple,” she said, adding historical enrollment at times reached 25,000–30,000 depending on the year.

Becker said she will continue to provide quarterly updates and that the Board of Advisors is still seeking nominations for the advisor backup seat. Commissioners asked staff to return with the board‑seat appointment on an upcoming agenda.

Becker spoke at the start of the evening’s presentations and remained available to answer follow‑up questions; commissioners asked for additional operational data, including staffing levels and use of contract nurses, which Becker said the hospital could provide.

Becker: “Last week was SRMC’s thirteenth birthday…All of that care is care that was provided right here in Sandoval County.”

Ending — Becker said she will return to the commission with additional detail and that the hospital will forward Mr. Lujan’s CV to county staff for consideration.