By Bill Donati – While many hospitals pare down services, Miners Colfax Medical Center (MCMC) in Raton continues on a path to keep improving its equipment, staff and services offered. CEO Shawn Lerch visited KRTN’s “This, That and the Other” program on Friday, July 22 and had a long list of positives that MCMC has either installed or is in the process of instituting.
With the recent closing of the obstetrics wing at Alta Vista Hospital in Las Vegas, MCMC has renewed and upped its commitment to the area’s obstetrical needs. Now the only facility between Raton and Santa Fe offering obstetrics, the MCMC Auxiliary is ramping up fundraising efforts to help purchase a new $250,000 Centricity Central Monitoring system for expecting mothers.
The medical imaging capability of MCMC is taking a huge leap forward with new computed tomography capability. The installation of a the new 3-D imaging machine/computer will upgrade from 16 slice to 64 slice which will have dramatic advanced capabilities for both cardiology and pulmonary services offered. Completion is expected by August 22 and until then the MRI scans will continue, but temporarily can only be offered on an every other week basis until completed.
With that imaging capability, MCMC is also completing a new service contract to provide much-needed cardiology services that will provide both out-patient advanced stress testing and in-patient consultations. Official clinics will begin in September with onsite clinics being held twice per month. For cardiology scheduling and information, call 575-445-7865.
MCMC laboratory services are also getting an upgrade as two new chemistry analyzers are being installed that will vastly enhance their testing capabilities. This includes providing microbiology in-house testing that previously had to be sent to Albuquerque.
The Behavioral Health service component is being further integrated with the addition of a psychiatrist, LISWs (Licensed Independent Social Workers) and certified counselors to work in conjunction with the recently-completed Primary Care Clinic. The clinic has been very busy since opening in August of 2015 and is actively recruiting two new providers (either Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant) and is also actively recruiting another Family Medicine physician.
Lerch also said that MCMC is planning a community meeting for sometime in August. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a “State of the State” report for the communities they serve and provide updates on their strategic initiatives, financial reports and give the public a forum to ask questions.
