New Mexico Nonprofit Empowers Patients Amid Physician Shortage

As New Mexico faces a significant shortage of physicians, a new nonprofit organization is taking steps to amplify patient voices in the ongoing conversation about healthcare reform. The organization, known as Patient-Led NM, aims to highlight the challenges faced by patients and advocate for necessary policy changes. This initiative comes as lawmakers express frustration over what they label a broken healthcare system.

In a recent telephone interview, Annie Jung, executive director of the New Mexico Medical Society and one of the founders of Patient-Led NM, emphasized the need for reform. “The reason that our environment in New Mexico is not conducive to healthcare right now is the policy decisions that have been made,” she stated. The nonprofit plans to hold a series of summits throughout New Mexico to gather patient stories and focus on improving healthcare access and quality.

The push for policy reform aligns with a planned legislative effort for the upcoming 30-day session, which aims to incorporate New Mexico into interstate licensing compacts for medical professionals. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are advocating for changes to the state’s medical malpractice laws, which many in the medical community assert are driving physicians out of New Mexico. “There are a lot of policies that could be improved upon,” Jung noted, identifying medical malpractice reform as a critical issue.

Founded earlier this year, Patient-Led NM is not only hosting healthcare summits but has also launched a digital advertising campaign. Their website, patientlednm.org, serves as a platform for patients and healthcare providers to share their experiences. “Responses have been steady and strong,” Jung remarked, highlighting stories from parents struggling to find specialty care for their children and patients facing long wait times. “These are the real-life obstacles New Mexicans face every single day.”

Other organizations contributing to the mission include the New Mexico Hospital Association, Sacramento Mountains Foundation, and Greater Albuquerque Medical Association. The goal of this collaborative effort is to bring attention to the “patient perspective” regarding healthcare access challenges in New Mexico. As Troy Clark, president and CEO of the New Mexico Hospital Association, explained, “The everyday person doesn’t think about those issues when they’re trying to get an appointment with a physician or when they’re having to be sent out of state or long distances to get care.”

The summits organized by Patient-Led NM will gather patients, healthcare leaders, and policymakers to discuss potential solutions. A recent news release stated, “Each summit will spotlight lived experiences while opening dialogue on how malpractice reform, reimbursement adjustments, and gross receipts tax relief can collectively improve access to care.”

John Wheeler, CEO of the Sacramento Mountains Foundation, described the initiative as grassroots and emphasized its power. “This movement is led by patients, and that’s what makes it so powerful,” he said. “When individuals share their stories, it becomes impossible to ignore the real impact of the state-level policy decisions.”

The overarching goal of Patient-Led NM is to foster an environment in New Mexico where all residents can access the healthcare they deserve. Jung concluded, “We all have a story. Some are more dramatic than others. But everybody has at least one story of problems accessing timely, quality care.” As this new initiative unfolds, it aims to place patient experiences at the forefront of discussions about healthcare reform in New Mexico.