Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The New Mexico Department of Health on Monday announced it is enacting crisis standards of care for the state’s healthcare systems because of widespread nursing shortages and stubbornly high cases of COVID-19, mostly among unvaccinated people.
The announcement means the state’s healthcare facilities will suspend non-medically necessary procedures for at least a month. Crisis standards of care also were imposed for several weeks during the pandemic’s peak last winter.
During an online briefing Monday, New Mexico Health Secretary David Scrase said the state’s hospitals are full of more and sicker non-COVID patients who deferred medical care during the pandemic.
He said hospitals also are hampered by supply-chain issues of basic medical supplies.
Scrase cited unvaccinated patients as the biggest factor in the re-imposed rationing of some medical care. Since Feb. 1, 93% of COVID-19 deaths in New Mexico – or nearly 1,000 -- have occurred with unvaccinated people.
“We’re in tough shape right now in New Mexico,” he said.
Scrase emphasized while crisis standards of care modifies hospital and healthcare facility procedures, patients still should seek the care they need.
“If you’re sick or think you might be, please, call your doctor,” he said.