Healthcare

Lunch With A Leader: Think New Mexico’s Kristina Fisher Addresses State’s Growing Health Care Worker Shortage

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Think New Mexico Associate Director Kristina G. Fisher, speaking at the League of Women Voters ‘Lunch with a Leader’ event held May 15 at the Unitarian Church. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Think New Mexico Associate Director Kristina G. Fisher discusses the state’s serious and growing shortage of health care workers during the May 15 ‘Lunch with a Leader’ event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Think New Mexico Associate Director Kristina G. Fisher was the featured speaker at the monthly League of Women Voters Read More

State Public Health Offices To Close On Memorial Day

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NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico public health offices and administrative offices will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.

All New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) offices will reopen as regularly scheduled Tuesday, May 27.

The NMDOH Helpline, 1.833.SWNURSE (1.833.796.8773) will be available during regular business weekday business hours through the holiday weekend: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

The Helpline is staffed by nurses available to speak in English and Spanish for health questions, health care connections and provider Read More

New Mexico Medicaid Members Have Greater Access To ‘Quit Smoking’ Services

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NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Health Care Authority have joined forces with BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico, Molina Healthcare, Presbyterian and United Healthcare to help New Mexicans enrolled in Medicaid to stop or reduce tobacco and nicotine use.  

This unprecedented collaboration will leverage the New Mexico Department of Health’s (NMDOH) Quitline as a comprehensive source for Medicaid members who want help with nicotine use.  

For 20 years, 1.800.QUIT.NOW has been a trusted resource for New Mexicans seeking to quit tobacco and nicotine. Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Proposes Clean Fuels Program To Protect Air And Boost Economy

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NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has proposed a Clean Transportation Fuel Program to the state’s Environmental Improvement Board (EIB).

If approved, New Mexico would become the fourth state in the nation with a clean transportation fuel standard, following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s signing of House Bill 41 in March 2024.

This innovative market-based program would allow producers, importers, and dispensers of low-carbon fuels to generate and sell credits to those producing high-carbon fuels.

“Under Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s leadership, New Read More

LACF In Partnership With Anchorum Health Foundation Provides $52,750 In Grant Funding To Los Alamos Nonprofits

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LACF News:

The Los Alamos Community Foundation (LACF), in partnership with Anchorum Health Foundation and Christus St. Vincent, announces a distribution of $52,750 to five Los Alamos non-profit organizations addressing the needs of health and wellness in the community, with an emphasis on mental health. These grants were made possible through the Anchorum Health Foundation in Santa Fe.

“We are extremely excited and grateful to be partnering with Anchorum Health Foundation to bring support to our local nonprofits and aid in the ability to help Los Alamos become an even better place,” said Read More

Leadership Los Alamos Health & Wellbeing Session Review

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C’YA Executive Director Bernadette Lauritzen leads a discussion during the March 28 Leadership Los Alamos session. Courtesy/LLA

LLA News:

Leadership Los Alamos (LLA) held its Health & Wellbeing session March 28 at the Los Alamos Little Theatre. The engaging event aimed to foster leadership skills and promote community awareness among participants.

The session began with a warm welcome from LLA Board Members, followed by a short breathing exercise designed to center the participants and prepare them for the day ahead. Judith Gordon led the group through their third Leadership Development Read More

What About All Those Ticks Around Town?

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A brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Courtesy/CDC

A rocky mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni). Courtesy/CDC

COUNTY News:

Why is there an increase in ticks in Los Alamos County?

In Northern NM, an increase in tick populations in 2025 is likely due to several factors:

  • Climate change: Milder winters and earlier springs, due to climate change, allow ticks to survive and reproduce for a longer period, leading to larger populations. Ticks are exotherms, meaning they don’t regulate their internal temperature, so they thrive in warmer conditions. Changes in precipitation patterns
Read More

LAMC Names 2025 Mercy Award Winner: Dianne Vandiver

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Dianne Vandiver, RN

LAMC News:

RN has made incredible contributions and impacts during her 53-year career

Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) recently announced that Dianne Vandiver, RN, has been recognized as the facility’s 2025 Mercy Award winner.

The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.

Vandiver has been a nurse at Los Alamos Medical Center since March 22, Read More

New Virtual Program Trains Public On Overdose Prevention

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UNM’s Project ECHO News:

ALBUQUERQUE — In a concerted effort to combat the escalating opioid crisis in New Mexico, Project ECHO at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center is partnering with the New Mexico Health Care Authority and Bernalillo County to introduce the Community Opioid Response Education (CORE) program.

The program provides free, virtual training on naloxone administration and harm reduction strategies for everyone in New Mexico, equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to save lives. Any New Mexican who participates can receive free harm reduction Read More