Healthcare

Richins: Get Prepared For Respiratory Virus Season

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By JOYCE RICHINS, BS, RN, CIC
Infection Preventionist
Los Alamos Medical Center

As a member of the Los Alamos County Health Council, I would like to help prepare you for the 2024-2025 Respiratory Virus Season. Influenza, RSV and COVID are just around the corner.

Predictions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (https://www.cdc.gov/cfa-qualitative-assessments/php/data-research/season-outlook24-25/index.html) suggest this season’s peak hospitalization rate will be similar to or lower than last year. Of course, there is still a risk of a higher peak rate.

Respiratory Read More

Winter Moratorium: Utility Disconnection Rule Update

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COUNTY News:

          • Winter utility disconnection rule update

The Los Alamos County Board of Public Utilities adopted a change to the rule regarding utility disconnection during winter months at its Sept. 18 meeting. Rule GR 13.06 now clearly identifies which customers are eligible for protection from utility service disconnection between Nov. 15 and March 15.

The updated rule states that to qualify for the winter disconnection moratorium of the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU), residential customers must either provide DPU with proof of LIHEAP eligibility or meet eligibility Read More

Stansbury Fights To Disrupt Criminal Suppliers Of Fentanyl

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U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury

Congressional  News:

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) has introduced the Stop the Opioid Pill Presser and Fentanyl Act (STOPP Fentanyl Act) to commercially disrupt global criminal networks and suppliers of illicit drugs like fentanyl.

“The devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis is deeply personal for me. Sadly, like millions of Americans, this epidemic has touched my life with the death of a close friend,” Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) said. “Drug traffickers and suppliers adapt quickly, and so should we. Our focus must remain on Read More

Think New Mexico Releases Policy Report Proposing Plan, Recommendations To Solve Health Care Worker Shortage

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Staff Report

Think New Mexico just released a new policy report proposing a 10-point plan with 20 separate legislative recommendations to address the urgent crisis of New Mexico’s health care worker shortage.

The number of primary care physicians in New Mexico fell by 30% from 2017-2021 and the numbers of ob-gyns, registered nurses, dentists, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and EMTs have also declined sharply in recent years according to data collected by the New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee.

To reverse this growing shortage, Think New Mexico’s new report proposes legislative Read More

Governor Appoints Emily Kaltenbach Secretary Of Aging And Long-Term Services Department

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Emily Kaltenbach

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced her appointment of Emily Kaltenbach as Cabinet Secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD).

Kaltenbach brings more than two decades of leadership in public policy, health care reform, and advocacy, as well as a strong track-record of advancing services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and communities across New Mexico. Kaltenbach will join the administration on Nov. 4, 2024.

Previously, Kaltenbach was senior director of state advocacy for the Drug Policy Alliance, Read More

LAPS Apprises Parents Of Whooping Cough Case At LAHS

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Staff Report

Upon learning of a case of Whooping cough in the district, Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Superintendent Jennifer Guy issued a letter Monday to parents and caregivers.

“I am writing to inform you that this afternoon we were notified by the Department of Health that a Los Alamos High School student has tested positive for Pertussis,” Superintendent Guy said in the letter. “The school nurse is working closely with the NM Department of Health and the family to get more information and to identify any close contacts. If your child is identified as a possible close contact, you will receive Read More

Governor Issues Executive Order Expanding And Investing In Climate-Ready, Infrastructure Workforce For New Mexico

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STATE News:

SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced an Executive Order to expedite New Mexico’s transition to a clean energy economy and address the critical need for infrastructure development across the state.

The Executive Order reflects pressing needs of New Mexico communities such as Ruidoso and the Mescalero Apache Nation, which suffered extensive fire and flooding damage which the governor discussed with residents during town halls last week.

Gov. Lujan Grisham’s Executive Order will enable the state to leverage billions of federal and state dollars to ensure Read More

Scenes From LAMC’s Meet & Greet For Dr. Ronald Wheeler

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Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) CEO Tracie Stratton slices the cake welcoming the hospital’s new orthopedic  surgeon Dr. Ronald D. Wheeler at a Meet and Greet held in his honor this afternoon in the lobby at LAMC. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Dr. Ronald D. Wheeler, center, chats with doctors, medical professionals and community members during his Meet & Greet this afternoon at LAMC. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Scene from the Meet & Greet this afternoon for Dr. Ronald D. Wheelerat LAMC. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

LAMC CEO Tracie Stratton welcomes the Read More

Senators Heinrich, Casey Introduce Legislation To Stop Fentanyl From Entering Prisons And Protect Officers From Dangerous Exposure

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SENATE News:

          • The Interdiction of Fentanyl at Federal Prisons Act will help eliminate fentanyl and other illicit narcotics from entering prisons by mail

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced legislation to protect prison officers, staff, and inmates from fentanyl and other illicit substances entering the Federal Prison System through inmate mail.

By directing the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to develop a strategy that guarantees all mail is screened for illicit contraband, the Interdiction of Fentanyl at Federal Prisons Act would reduce Read More

New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program In New Location

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NMHealth News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Center for Medical Cannabis will provide services at its new location in the Harold L. Runnels building at 1190 S. St. Francis Drive beginning today, Sept 23.

The program, operated by the New Mexico Department of Health, will be open for regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone services may be intermittently unavailable through Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Anyone calling the Center for Medical Cannabis at 505.827.2321 during regular business hours and not receiving an answer is asked to email the program at Medical.Cannabis@doh.nm.gov Read More