A NEW REPORT FROM THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THERE WERE MORE THAN 800-THOUSAND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS STATEWIDE IN 2017. AND THE HIGHEST RATE WAS IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS RESPIRATORY DISEASES, POISONINGS, INJURIES AND OTHER MEDICAL ISSUES ARE MORE PREVALENT IN THAT PART OF THE STATE.
MORE THAN 40-PERCENT OF ALL E-R VISITS WERE COVERED BY MEDICAID. THE FACILITY THAT SAW THE MOST EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS WAS PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL IN ALBUQUERQUE.