FGGAM NEWS JUST RECIVED THIS NEWS RELEASE:
UNMHS Report: New Mexico Already Facing Extreme Shortage of Health Care Workers
Concerns raised that the worst may be yet to come
SANTA FE – Today, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center presented a dire report to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee regarding the health care worker shortage in New Mexico. The report indicates that as of December 2020, New Mexico was already facing a mass shortage of primary care physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals. With Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 10-day vaccination deadline for all healthcare workers rapidly approaching, some Republican Senators fear the worst case scenario may be looming on the horizon.
Senator David Gallegos (District 41-Eddy and Lea), a member of the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, had this to say regarding today’s presentation:
“Since my joint statement with Dr. Gregg Schmedes on Tuesday, I been contacted by several healthcare workers and hospital administrators telling me that our worst fears could soon be realized. Today’s report is further evidence of our precarious situation and the Governor’s recent vaccine mandate may in fact push our healthcare system—especially in rural New Mexico—over the brink. This administration needs to immediately contact our doctors and nurses, and address their concerns before it is too late. Our hospitals and critical care units cannot afford to lose even one practitioner or physician over these mandates.”