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Hospital representatives outline expansion plans as ER visits rise in Las Cruces
Summary
Hospital officials told the council that emergency department visits are rising and described plans to expand critical-care capacity, consider additional freestanding emergency services, and share their financial-assistance policy with the city.
A hospital representative told the City Council that emergency department visits have grown faster than surgical volumes and admissions, reflecting a national trend toward people using ERs instead of primary care. The representative said the hospital's freestanding emergency facility provides a higher level of off-campus emergent care and that adding another freestanding ER or urgent care could benefit the community.
The council asked how the hospital is preparing for anticipated rural hospital closures and increased transfers. The hospital representative said transfers are climbing year over year and described plans to expand the main campus's footprint to increase critical-care capacity, including the hospital's 18-bed intermediate care (IMC) step-down unit, which is often full. "We can do some different things to increase the bed capacity, mainly critical care," the representative said.
Council members pressed on staffing and recruitment. The presenter said a recent House bill addressing malpractice reform has helped recruitment conversations and that the hospital has been recruiting and employing more physicians directly to reduce barriers. The presenter cited the community's quality of life as a recruiting point for specialists and noted recent hires in finance: "We have a new chief financial officer, Doug, who joined us from Lake Havasu," the presenter said.
A councilor asked about past patient debt collection litigation. Stephanie Guardian, marketing director at the hospital, said the collection practices in question occurred before her time and were conducted by the parent company, and she said the practice has since changed so it "won't be happening again." The presenter also agreed to provide the council with the hospital's financial assistance and indigent care policy on request.
On timing, the hospital representative said the project is pending corporate board approval. If approval is received, the speaker said the earliest target would be to break ground in early spring 2027 with a two-year build and that the hospital expects close coordination with city staff during the process.
The council thanked the presenters and moved on to the next agenda item.
