OPINIONATED STATEMENT ON HEALTHCARE IN NEW MEXICO: My Take
In the heart of New Mexico, the Albuquerque Journal is inviting readers to share their personal stories and experiences with the state's health care system. The goal is to start a conversation that motivates policy makers, health care leaders, consumers, and providers to take action based on real-life experiences.
The Journal is interested in hearing from individuals across the state, whether you reside in rural areas or urban centres, and regardless of the type of care you require – be it primary, mental health, specialty, emergency, or long-term.
Rural New Mexico is facing challenges in accessing health care due to recent trends in privatization and ownership changes. Private equity firms have acquired hospitals and clinics, prioritizing profit over patient care. This has raised concerns about reduced access to services, particularly for low-income families, rural residents, elders, and vulnerable populations.
Urban areas, such as Rio Rancho, highlight the importance of patient advocates in navigating the complex health care system. Having accessible advocates can significantly improve an individual's ability to understand and access needed care, including mental health and emergency services.
Stories from hospitals within and outside New Mexico also show partnerships between rural and urban providers working together to keep specialty services accessible close to home. However, the rising costs and system complexity continue to complicate patient experiences, particularly for those requiring long-term and mental health care.
The Journal believes that it's important to put local faces on the health care issue to emphasize its impact on real people. They aim to publish a series of op-eds on health care in the state's Opinion pages in the coming weeks, featuring columns from patients and experts.
If you have a story to share, the Journal welcomes submissions of columns about your personal experiences with health care in New Mexico. The columns should be 600 words or less and can be made on their website (our website/opinion) or emailed.
The Journal encourages submissions of columns that provide an accurate portrayal of health care in the state, including positive and negative experiences. They are particularly interested in stories that shed light on the growing disparity in health services availability, the importance of patient advocacy, and the ongoing efforts to improve patient support and cooperation between rural and urban providers.
Debate exists about whether malpractice laws should be reformed in New Mexico, with numerous lawsuits and large verdicts for malpractice in the state. The Journal is open to hearing diverse opinions on this matter.
For general questions or concerns, please contact the Journal at web@our website. Let's start a conversation about the health care system in New Mexico that motivates action.
- The Albuquerque Journal invites readers to share their personal stories and opinions about the state's health care system, aiming to highlight its real-life impact.
- Rural New Mexico grapples with health care access issues due to privatization and prioritization of profit over patient care, while urban areas like Rio Rancho advocate for improved patient navigation in the complex system.
- The Journal is interested in stories that expose the growing disparity in health services availability, the importance of patient advocacy, and the ongoing efforts to improve patient support, especially in long-term and mental health care.
- The Journal encourages diverse opinions on the debate about reforming malpractice laws in New Mexico, inviting readers to send columns to their website or email.
