BabyNet: New Parent Guide Free Service For Los Alamos
Courtesy/BabyNet
By MARY BLOSER
BabyNet
The members of BabyNet, an Advisory Council to the Los Alamos Health Council, are excited to announce that we have created a brand-new resource for pregnant women and new parents in northern New Mexico!
This “New Parent Guide” is a voluntary service that is free to all, and it lists over one hundred pages of resources, organized by categories such as Holistic Healthcare, Medical/Western Healthcare, Maternal and Postnatal Care, Childcare, and Family & Fitness.
The New Parent Guide assists women and new parents by offering information and options Read More
New Mexico Doctors Fight For Medical Malpractice Changes
Dr. Gabrielle Adams
By ROBERT NOTT
rnott@sfnewmexican.com
While state lawmakers tackle a number of key issues this session that grab the public’s attention— crime, public education, rebate checks — there are any number of lower-profile ones that keep popping up and down like inflatable punching bags.
Like medical malpractice, to name one.
A moving current of white medical coats — with professional practitioners within them — showed up in force at the Roundhouse Saturday to remind lawmakers the issue is very much alive in their minds.
Their goal is to pressure lawmakers to act on a stalled bill Read More
Skolnik: Increasing Healthcare Services In New Mexico – Is It Now or Never?
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
Despite its many talented healthcare professionals, New Mexico ranks 33rd in healthcare in the US (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/health-care). This is not by chance. Rather, misguided state policies are an important cause of the poor status of healthcare in our state.
Some of New Mexico’s most critical healthcare gaps relate to physician shortages. NM ranks 36th of the 50 states in “physicians in patient care,” per capita. (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2020-2021/DocSt.pdf). In addition, we have an aging physician work Read More
Senate Adds Conscience Clause To Aid-In-Dying Law
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A bill the Senate passed Thursday eliminates any repercussions against doctors, nurses and other health care providers who refuse to participate in New Mexico’s medical aid-in-dying law for reasons of conscience.
“This bill simply acknowledges and affirms the right of individuals to object on conscientious reasons to participate in any medical aid in dying, including the refusal to provide information on medical aid in dying to a patient and refusing to refer a patient to someone else willing Read More
LANL: Giving The Gift Of Life, Laboratory Employees Step Up To Donate Blood
Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
Every two seconds someone in the U.S. receives a blood transfusion, and the life-saving gift of blood is often in short supply.
Which is why the Laboratory helps its employees to step up and contribute to filling the gap.
In the last fiscal year (which ran Oct. 2021 to Sept. 2022) the Laboratory organized 17 blood drives, with 658 employee donors giving 771 units of blood — enough to save 2517 lives.
In conjunction with blood donation partner Vitalant, the Laboratory’s Community Partnerships Office organizes the employee-only drives to be convenient for workers to take Read More
Leonard: How AI Is Changing Medicine, Where It’s Headed
By LAURA LEONARD
Doctor of Chiropractic
Los Alamos
The recently launched AI chatbot, ChatGPT, is expected to completely revolutionize the practice of medicine.
In February of this year, ChatGPT took and almost passed the US Medical Licensing Exam with pass rates between 52 and 74 percent between three tests.
Remarkable considering medical residents average pass rate for the USMLE is 60 percent.
When the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of 11,004 Americans however, they determined that 60 percent were uncomfortable with the use of AI in their care.
Time will tell where this is all headed Read More
HB 134 Free Menstrual Products In Schools Goes To Senate
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A student-driven bill that would require all public schools in New Mexico to stock restrooms with free menstrual products is headed to its final proving ground in the Legislature.
The Senate Education Committee on Wednesday voted 4-1 in approval of House Bill 134, drafted by three teens who attend Albuquerque Academy. The bill now goes to the full Senate.
Rep. Christine Trujillo, D-Albuquerque, a sponsor of HB 134, said the budget bill for fiscal year 2024 includes $1.2 million to fund the measure.
Maddy Hayden, Read More
New Mexico Health Professionals For Climate Action Urge Governor To Support HB 42 & SB 5
Courtesy/NM Health Professionals for Climate Action
From NM Health Professionals for Climate Action:
To: The Honorable Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Honorable Secretary of Health Patrick Allen.
We are writing on behalf of the rapidly growing network of New Mexican health professionals alarmed by the dangerous health effects of climate change we currently see manifesting among patients and communities in our state.
We admire your commitment to improving the well-being of all New Mexicans under your leadership.
We request that you continue this commitment by supporting the creation Read More
Heinrich, Brown, Collins, Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Increase Access To Mental Health Services For Older Americans
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase access to mental health care services for older Americans by ensuring Medicare beneficiaries have access to clinical psychologists across all settings of care.
This legislation, the Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2023, would update the Medicare program to ensure Medicare beneficiaries can access clinical psychologists directly for mental Read More
Mental Health Bill For New Mexico Firefighters Advances
Rep. Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Thomson
STATE News:
SANTA FE — House Bill 257, which would help provide behavioral health support to firefighters, passed the House Monday with a bipartisan vote of 64-2.
These support programs would allow firefighters to offer peer-to-peer behavioral health support within their departments. The State Fire Marshal’s Office would offer training courses for fire departments that choose to implement these programs.
The training courses would focus on substance misuse, critical incident stress, grief support, line of duty deaths, serious injury or illness, suicidal Read More
Op-Ed: New Mexico Medical Malpractice
By KURT C. LANGE, MD.
Taos and Los Alamos
Most of us love New Mexico but we know it has its problems. In 2019, according to US News and World Report, New Mexico ranked 48 out of 50 states as a place to live. In addition, healthcare ranked #33, education #50, crime #47 and opportunity #49. I think it’s obvious that following the COVID epidemic, things haven’t improved for New Mexico. These are the things a state government should provide for its citizens, but it appears they are failing.
Being a long time physician practicing medicine in Texas and later moving to New Mexico to continue to practice, I think Read More
Democrats Table Second Medical Malpractice Proposal
Sen. Mark Moores
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A bipartisan bill that would have left the cap on medical malpractice payouts for independent outpatient health care facilities at $750,000 for another two years stalled Thursday in the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee.
Supporters said the measure was designed to fix a flaw in the state’s medical malpractice law that has left health care facilities that are not majority-owned by a hospital unable to obtain medical malpractice insurance — further exacerbating New Mexico’s shortage of doctors.
After a two-hour Read More
Senate Advances Paid Leave Bill Over GOP Objections
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The santa Fe New Mexican
A proposal to establish a paid family and medical leave program in New Mexico is heading to the House for consideration after winning approval Saturday in the Senate.
After more than three hours of debate and several failed amendments, Senate Bill 11 cleared the chamber 23-15. Two Democrats —George Muñoz of Gallup and Daniel Ivey-Soto of Albuquerque — joined Republicans in voting against the bill.
Republicans described the proposed Paid Family and Medical Leave Act as government overreach and a tax on businesses as well as employees, both of whom would Read More
County COVID-19 Community Newsletter: March. 3, 2023
In this week’s COVID-19 Newsletter read about how COVID testing sites across the country are closing, why keeping your kids up-to-date with their vaccinations is so important, and how data about long COVID tells us things may be changing. Click here: https://conta.cc/3mnqkbe Read More
LAPS On March Prevention Theme: Sleep Awareness
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) is addressing the March Prevention Theme: Sleep Awareness. Are you or someone you know struggling with irritability or feeling overwhelmed? Having trouble managing your emotions and staying focused? Feeling sluggish and unmotivated? It might be a good time to check in on the amount and quality of sleep you’re getting.
Sleep is a time for the body to rest and repair and for the brain to integrate and process the day’s information and events. Lack of sleep can have negative impacts on mental and physical health for children, youth and adults.
Adequate Read More
New Mexico To End COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Courtesy/CDC
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced that today’s renewal of the COVID-19 executive order will be the final extension. It will remain in effect until March 31, 2023, and then will be allowed to expire.
“While we’re still seeing COVID cases, our preparedness and collaborative work have helped turn a once-in-a-century public health emergency into a manageable situation,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We are working diligently across state agencies to make sure New Mexicans continue to be supported as federal COVID programs wind down.” Read More
New Women’s Health FNP Joins Los Alamos Medical Center
Janet Sandy, FNP
LAMC News:
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) has announced a new addition to its women’s health clinic. Janet Sandy, FNP, is a Family Nurse Practitioner who came to the community a year ago to serve as a travel nurse and made the decision to stay as a permanent resident. She said that she is looking forward to seeing both new and existing patients.
“When I arrived in Los Alamos a year ago, I was brought together with a group of extraordinary people serving Los Alamos Medical Center as dedicated nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and locums providers on the OB unit. Strong friendships Read More
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Is It Your Time For A Colonoscopy?
By KURT LANGE, MD
LAMC
The 80s and 90s were a legendary time for cinema, with the release of some of the most well-known movies to date, including Thelma & Louise, Forrest Gump, Clueless, Space Jam, Titanic and the list goes on. But if these renowned pieces of pop culture were introduced to the big screen during your teenage years, it might be time to consider a different kind of screening – a colonoscopy. With March being National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, there’s no better time to schedule your appointment to get screened.
A colonoscopy is a screening that can identify colorectal Read More
On Rare Disease Day, Luján And Heinrich Introduce Legislation To Increase Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Research And Education
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Cerebral Cavernous Malformations Clinical Awareness, Research and Education Act (CCM-CARE) which would expand National Institutes of Health (NIH) research related to cerebral cavernous malformations.
Nationwide, an estimated 600,000 Americans are affected by Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM), and due to limited research, there is currently no treatment for CCM other Read More
PCNM No Longer Providing COVID Testing In Los Alamos
COUNTY News:
Due to the decline in patients, Pathology Consultants of New Mexico (PCNM) will no longer provide COVID-19 testing service in White Rock effective immediately. Officials at Los Alamos County were informed that Monday, Feb. 27 was their last day.
“Over the last month, we have seen a continual decreased volume, on average less than three patients a day,” said PCNM Director of Business Development Patricia Ramirez. “It has been our pleasure to have serviced your community for over a year now. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Los Alamos County.
Residents are encouraged to use an Read More
