Health center hires new admin

The new administrator of the Presbyterian Medical Services Family Health Center is looking forward to continuing providing quality medical services to the residents of her hometown.

"It has been a long time since I left Tucumcari," said Renee Hayoz, PMS administrator. "I moved back to help my family, in doing so I also have the opportunity to help the community."

Hayoz, a 1991 graduate of Tucumcari High School, said she has spent the past 10 years working in municipal, county, state and tribal governments. She said before moving back to Tucumcari she was working in Albuquerque.

"It's good to be back, when I was younger I just wanted to move away," Hayoz said. "Now here I am, happy to be home."

Hayoz said she has spent her first weeks at work trying to catch up on all of the day-to-day duties as administrator. She said the duties were not neglected,but that the catching up is just part of her transition into the new job.

"I am looking forward to meeting the local school board, county, city meetings to meet the officials," Hayoz said. "Having a strong relationship with local agencies is crucial to a local clinic's success. I want to make the clinic a focal point of the community."

Hayoz said working, interacting with the local agencies will help her to better understand what is needed to better serve the community. She said having an active presence out in the community will help to raise the awareness to the residents of the services the clinic provides and that they are here for the long run.

Hayoz said she has also been looking into long term goals for the clinic, those goals include adding dental services and another health provider. She said behavioral health is a service she would really like to add to the clinic.

"It is wonderful to see so many familiar faces and reuniting with people," Hayoz said. "One of the best things about returning home is the residents don't see me as an outsider."