Healthcare

Lawmakers Get To Work On Public Safety Agenda With Competency, Treatment Bill

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Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, meets with committee members for their first meeting of the 2025 legislative session at the state Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Chandler is the sponsor of House Bill 4, which would change involuntary commitment policies. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Democratic lawmakers are bringing forth a revamped proposal on the involuntary commitment of criminal defendants who are deemed incompetent to stand trial, after a bill seeking a similar objective died on the Read More

Governor Proposes Making Child Drug Care Plans Mandatory, Breaking With Old CYFD Stance

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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivers her State of the State address at the state Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, the first day of the 2025 legislative session. She called for changes New Mexico’s law governing how to treat babies born with drugs in their system amid low uptake with care plans prescribed to families. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican

By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

In the past, the state Children, Youth and Families Department has opposed changes to New Mexico’s law governing how to treat children born with drugs in their system, arguing it was the best agency Read More

High School Sports Fans: Simmer Down Or Sit Down

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By Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff
NFHS Chief Executive Officer 

If you’re a fan of high school sports, we need to talk.

When you’re at the game, do you lose control? If so, everyone sees it—the teachers, the officials, the other fans, the parents, and most importantly, the student-athletes. They see you at your worst. And it leaves an impression—not just of you and the school but all high school athletics. 

Research consistently underscores that kids look to adults as inspiration for who they want to be and how they want to live. That’s because adults set the tone. Adults show what behaviors are acceptable Read More

Dannemann: There’s No Mystery About Malpractice

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© 2025 By MERILEE DANNEMANN

We can’t take action on the medical malpractice issue, said Rep. Liz Thomson, because we don’t have data.

You’ve got to be kidding, I muttered.

Thomson made this comment to a standing-room-only audience at a pre-legislature town hall where she was one of eight legislators on stage. It was almost the end of the event, which had until that moment been pretty  cordial.

Instead of asking for closing statements, the moderator asked for each legislator’s final comments to be his or her proposed solutions on the issue of healthcare, which all had agreed was a major concern. Read More

Health Care Authority Launches New Office Of Data And Analytics To Drive Improvements Across New Mexico

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HCA Cabinet Secretary Kari Armijo

HCA News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced the launch of its new Office of Data and Analytics (ODA), a pioneering team dedicated to leveraging data-driven strategies to improve health outcomes across New Mexico.

“We’re excited to launch the Office of Data and Analytics bringing on talented professionals who are ready to make a real difference,” HCA Cabinet Secretary Kari Armijo said. “The data office will allow us to leverage advanced analytics to support decision-making that leads to better, more equitable health outcomes Read More

DEA Announces Three New Telemedicine Rules That Continue To Open Access To Telehealth Treatment

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DEA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is announcing three new rules to make permanent some temporary telemedicine flexibilities established during the COVID-19 public health emergency while also establishing new patient protections. 

In developing these rules, DEA has focused on the patient to ensure telemedicine is accessible for medical care. Importantly, these rules do not apply to telemedicine visits in which a patient has already been seen in-person by a medical provider. Once a patient has had an in-person visit with a medical provider, the medical Read More

LARSO To Host ‘A Matter Of Balance’ Fall Prevention Program At BESC Beginning Monday Jan. 27

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Instructors Judy Lovejoy, second from left, and Kate Cleveland, front, with October 2024 graduates. Courtesy/LARSO

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Certified MOB Trainer

The Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization (LARSO) will offer another session of A Matter of Balance (MOB) starting later this month. This evidence-based fall prevention program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and improve activity levels of older adults.

The classes are designed for seniors age 60 and older. The program is FREE and completed in eight two-hour sessions, twice a week.

The new classes are 9:30-11:30 Read More

LAMC Welcomes Debra Temple As Interim CNO

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Debra Temple, LAMC Interim Chief Nursing Officer

LAMC News:

Los Alamos Medical Center is pleased to announce the arrival of Debra Temple, MHA, BSN, RN as the hospital’s Interim Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). Debra has more than 14 years of medical executive leadership, spanning inpatient rehabilitation, long term acute care and acute care settings.

“Quality is our top priority at LAMC, and Debra has shown her commitment is to high quality patient care, safe patient care and safe nursing practice,” Tracie Stratton, CEO of Los Alamos Medical Center. said “As a healthcare leader in our region, Read More