Expanding Healthcare To Rural New Mexico

Help Us Expand Healthcare Services to Rural Patients in Gallup, NM and Surrounding Areas

I have worked at an Indian Health Service Hospital for many years now; we serve the nearby Navajo Nation, Zuni Nation, and many other patients that otherwise wouldn’t have access to healthcare. Because of the rural areas that surround Gallup, New Mexico in nearly every direction, residents in these areas are dangerously under-served in terms of emergency services and healthcare needs in general.

Unfortunately, occurrences of rural residents failing to receive prompt care in emergency situations are only rising, putting the lives of millions at risk. These areas are already considered “primary care deserts,’ meaning that residents do not have accessible family doctors within a reachable distance. It’s estimated that 65 million Americans already live in a primary care desert, and the US is expected to lose another 100,000 doctors by 2025. As access to care decreases, the chances of fatalities in rural areas – which already have lower life expectancies than their urban counterparts – increase.

At the hospital where I work, our emergency department provides care to many indigenous patients, never turning anyone away. The problem is that many residents of these areas cannot get to our hospital quickly enough. This region, which spans from western New Mexico deep into Arizona only has 4 practicing paramedics, making response times way longer than they should be. Two emergency doctors from the hospital have crafted a plan to supply the area with more paramedics who can provide hospital transports, on-the-ground care, and in some cases, supplemental primary care in the areas that are considered care deserts, but it can’t be done without your help.

The Plan

In an effort to help patients avoid having to wait hours or days for emergency services, we are bolstering efforts to train and staff more Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in the field. As mobile healthcare providers, EMTs can provide emergency care, partner with other social programs, and add an extra layer of healthcare access to our underserved community.

Two doctors from our emergency department came together to develop a training plan that will offer traditional EMT training such as emergency care, but also expand their scope slightly to be able to help in non-emergency situations. Although EMTs are often seen as emergency care providers whose main goal is to provide swift transport to a hospital, they are capable of much more. In rural areas, EMTs can be the difference between a patient having reasonable access to care and not having access to care at all.

We have 10 hospital staff members enrolled in the program. To emphasize the importance of this initiative, there are currently only 4 paramedics in the area; training 10 EMTs would supply a healthy pipeline of potential future paramedics, as well as increase the number of on-the-go medical providers substantially.

How You Can Help

We have the training materials, we have the educators, and we have eager trainees, but our funds are running out. Getting trained and certified as an EMT is a costly endeavor, and to make the program more accessible, a private donor, who is an emergency doctor here at the hospital, stepped up to fund the program. However, the training and certification of these healthcare providers are just the first steps.

They’ll need uniforms, medical supplies, and even transport vehicles. If we want to continue the program and train new EMTs on a regular basis, recurring funding is critical, too. Since medical providers in the area are generally underfunded, the ability to stand up this life-saving program will hinge on the community’s ability to help. To make it easy to get involved, we’ve created a GoFundMe which you can find here. Every penny counts, and these funds will be the difference between life and death in rural communities in this area.

We know that not everyone can donate; please don’t ever jeopardize your financial security for us. Sharing this post, spreading the word, and cheering our program on are just as powerful as monetary contributions.

It Really Works

Programs like these truly do make a difference. Though they are not as common in the US just yet, they have become incredibly effective in Canada and other countries with large rural populations. Paramedics offer an untapped potential as medical providers in areas where medical care can be hard to reach; they can offer emergency services and even primary care services as well.

Paramedicine professionals can collaborate with family care providers, emergency doctors, specialty doctors, and more, acting as a first line of defense for rural populations. They can partner with detox services, social services, and welfare to ensure that people are getting holistic care and have access to the resources they need to live longer, happier lives. This model is functional and even thriving in Canadian communities, and we hope to bring similar paramedicine capabilities to New Mexico and Arizona.

Understanding the Impact

It’s easy to think of “rural communities” as the family of 5 that lives just outside of town with a farm and a few horses, but when you dive into the numbers, nearly 18% of the nation’s total population lives in a rural area. Rural hospitals are closing at alarming rates because of negative profit margins and an overall lack of funding, decreasing already sparse medical care access points in rural areas. EMTs can bridge the care gap and save lives, which is what we’re trying to do with our new EMT training program.

Together, We Can Live Healthier Lives

We know what it means to be a community. Living and working in rural areas has taught us that neighbors can be relied on in times of need. Though our homes may be miles apart, our hearts are never far from one another. If you have the means, please consider donating to the GoFundMe for this project. It could be you that needs care, it could be someone you love, or it could be someone who lives 50 miles away. In times of trouble, we know what it means to stick together. Let’s get this done and reduce barriers to rural healthcare as the strong community I know we are. Every penny counts, and every like, comment, or share counts just as much. Thank you!

Notice of Non-Affiliation and Disclaimer

We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Gallup Indian Medical Center, or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. This program was created privately by two physicians for the betterment of this community and surrounding areas.