Pecos Valley Medical Center, Inc.
Organizational History

 

(Collected from several sources – clarifications
and corrections are welcome!)

 

Dr. Evans was the primary medical practitioner in the Pecos Valley area for many years, but when he retired in the early 1960’s, the valley was left without a local doctor. People had to travel to Santa Fe or Las Vegas to receive basic medical care, and there was no ambulance for emergencies. By the late 60’s - early 70’s, the need to have basic medical care available in the community again was well recognized. The Village of Pecos started discussions and formed a community group to look at how good medical care might be provided.

 

The Health Care Committee, including Mabel Varela and others, worked diligently with the Department of Health, area legislators, and the Congressional delegation exploring opportunities and by 1975 obtained the Medically Underserved Area (MUA) and Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations necessary to become a National Health Service Corp (NHSC) site through the US Public Health Service of the federal Health and Human Services Department. That designation in turn qualified the area for the assignment of a medical provider, initially at no cost to the clinic or Village.

 

Services were initially provided at the then-Village offices, and later in a property owned by the Village on the east side of Hwy 63/Main Street. The clinic moved into its own building in November, 1998 after an extensive capital campaign and design and construction period. Ambulance service was transferred from the Village to the clinic in 1999 and the dental clinic was built and opened in 2000. Planning for an expanded new clinic with additional exam rooms and dental operatories began in 2008 in order to accommodate new patients, new practice methodologies, and new services to better serve the growing community.

 

The chronology of PVMC beginning with the NHSC designation in 1975 follows:

 

1975

 

Napoleon Ortiz, MD, assigned to the Pecos Valley area to provide medical services.

1978

 

Dr. Ortiz reassigned and replaced by Jim Smith, CNP. Rural Health Center (RHC) designation was granted by HHSD/HRSA, allowing increased reimbursement rates from Medicaid and Medicare. Priscilla Vigil, LPN was hired through a federally funded program.

 

1982

 

Pecos Valley Medical Center, Inc. (PVMC) was incorporated in April as a private not for profit health care center with three members of the original Board of Directors - Joe M. Benavidez, Betty Sanchez, and Mabel Varela.

 

1985

 

Jim Smith, CNP, was reassigned by the NHSC and Joanne Baron, CNP was his replacement. PVMC received its first Rural Primary Health Care Act (RPHCA) grant (about $8,000) to subsidize the cost of providing medical services to the uninsured and indigent in the community.

 

1986

 

Ginger Ruiz joined PVMC as Executive Director (ED). RPHCA grant increased to about $22,000 for the year and patient encounters were nearly 3,100. The school-based health clinic project began, one of the first in the state.

 

1987

 

Articles of Incorporation were amended to increase the Board to five members and patient encounters were nearly 3,500.

 

1988

 

Joanne Baron left precipitously and was eventually replaced with Anne Turbett, MD. RPHCA funding increased to $50,000.

 

1989

 

Dr. Turbett left precipitously in August and Charles Romero, MD was recruited in December.

 

1990

 

Ginger Ruiz began a fund raising campaign for new facilities for the medical clinic and Los Trigos Ranch Fund and Jonsson Foundation became the first private donors supporting the clinic on an annual basis.

 

1991

 

Dr. Romero left to continue his education and temporary providers were found to keep the clinic operational. Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation was granted by HRSA/HHSD, replacing the Rural Health Center designation and improving the reimbursement rates from Medicaid and Medicare.

 

1992

 

Susan Banks, CNP was hired as a provider and became a NHSC loan reimbursement recipient during her first year. La Familia Medical Center of Santa Fe provided physician oversight. The Village and PVMC began discussions regarding transfer of the operation of the Ambulance Service to the clinic.

 

1994

 

Negotiations regarding transfer of the ambulance service, equipment, accounts, and personnel finally concluded. The Board of Directors committed to fundraising and construction of a comprehensive medical services facility; Los Trigos and Jonsson Foundation continued with major monetary donations toward the effort and Peggy Martin Gallegos and Herman Gallegos donated 1.5 acres of land north of Hwy 50 for the facility. The VISION project continued to evolve.

 

1995

 

Betty J. Whatley, MD was hired as Medical Director. Architectural planning, fundraising, and site preparation continued. Susan Banks began providing an outreach “teen clinic” 4 - 6 hours a week in the first collaboration with the school system.

 

1996

 

Greg P. Manoff, MD was hired as Assistant Medical Director to job-share with Dr. Whatley. VISION fundraising achieved great success in addition to legislative support for the ambulance service and new equipment.

 

1997

 

New Village administration determined it wanted the Ambulance Service back under its management and PVMC acquiesced. Bids were released in the fall for construction of the medical portion of the new clinic, including pharmacy and X- Ray room. RPHCA stabilized funding with a four year contract at $235,000. PVMC submitted its first grant application to HRSA/HHSD for section 330(e) community health center funding which was awarded in the amount of $461,000 beginning January 1, 1998 to support health care delivery to uninsured and indigent populations.

 

1998

 

Groundbreaking was held March 17 on the $480,000 building; Grand Opening was held November 25th, after the first patients were seen on November 17 – a wonderful accomplishment for PVMC and the community.

 

1999

 

Bids were released for the dental clinic and community room phase of the building late in the year. An adjacent acre of land just east of the clinic was donated by Peggy Martin Gallegos and Herman Gallegos. The Women and Infant Children’s program of DOH began using the modular building for monthly services. After another change of heart, the Village returned operation of the ambulance service to PVMC in December.

 

2000

 

PVMC survived Y2K and installed Health Pro Legacy as its first practice management software for electronic patient services billing to insurance companies, Medicaid, and Medicare, as well as individuals. Dr. Samantha Thomas joined the staff as the first dentist and began to see patients in August.

 

2002

 

Ginger Ruiz left as ED after 15 years and Fred Gallaher was hired as ED/CEO. Dr. Thomas left the dentist position and was replaced by locums and temps until Daniel Sanchez, DDS was hired and his wife, Susan, was hired as hygienist.

 

2003

 

Drs. Whatley and Manoff left the clinic and recruiting began for a new medical director and physician. Susan Banks and Angie Cline, PA held down the medical fort. Ashley Young, EMS-Paramedic was hired as director of the ambulance team.

 

2004

 

David Young, DO was hired as Medical Director and began officially in early January. Roxanne Collins, DDS was hired to replace Dr. Sanchez and his wife who returned to private practice. Dentrix was installed in the dental clinic as practice management and charting software. The Fitness Park opened on a portion of the acre earlier donated by the Gallegos’. Fundraising began for a new ambulance and new ambulance building to house the Service.

 

2005

 

Fred Gallaher left as CEO in April and Jerry O’Shea, a former board member, stepped in as temporary ED. Sigrid Olson was hired in September as new ED. Dr. Collins left in March and Jeffrey Humberson, DDS and his wife Ani were hired as dentist and hygienist, respectively, beginning in August. Angie Cline, PA left in July and Cynthia Rector, CFNP was hired in October. HRSA performed a first site visit in May and, among other suggestions, required PVMC to replace the outdated/unsupported Health Pro Legacy software with at least new practice management software. USDA approved a $91,960 grant to construct an ambulance building and to purchase an ambulance; that amount combined with legislative appropriations was sufficient to go forward with both projects (software and ambulance facilities). The County was to own/build the building and the Village was to own/lease the ambulance to PVMC Ambulance Service.

 

2006

 

Susan Banks, CFNP left in May for an opportunity in private practice and Sue Lovro, PA was hired in July after having interned at PVMC earlier in the year. Legislative funding was approved for FY2007 in the amount of $50,000 to support “acquisition of electronic software and necessary equipment” with support from the Village. After nearly a year of research and discussion with staff advisory and NMMRA consulting, the management team recommended the Board approve purchase of eClinicalWorks (eCW) electronic health record and practice management software at a cost of about $80,000 to the medical clinic. The Ambulance Service moved into its new building in October.

 

2007

 

Ashley Young left the Ambulance Service to pursue teaching at the college and Dennis Cronin, EMS-Paramedic was hired as director. The medical and finance teams rolled out eCW in late April and spent the rest of the year trying to make it do what it promised to do. Dental acquired digital x-ray in June and was able to do teeth x-rays much more efficiently and cost effectively, as well as do small joint x-rays for medical!

 

2008

 

A Board/Management retreat in January acknowledged growth and plans for a new building with more exam rooms and operatories, space for behavioral health and social services, and state of the art medical and dental technology, including medical semi-digital x-ray. Dr. Humberson and Ani resigned in March to work closer to home. Dr. Daniel K. Evans, DDS, began providing part-time dental services in July. Dr. Richard C. Peters, DDS, joined PVMC in October as a full-time dentist, bringing his more than 20 years of experience to the dental clinic.

 

2009-2011

 

To be continued! Personnel changes continue, with growth being the norm: While some staff have moved on, new staff have been brought on board, increasing the overall ability of PVMC to provide services. The number of patients using those services continues to increase. New x-ray capability was established and an x-ray tech hired. Plans are being solidified for a new modern facility to house an expanded clinic, with construction to begin in a year or two, hopefully. Recent years have seen exciting developments, and though economic conditions throughout the country are challenging, we hope to see continuing expansion of our ability to provide quality medical, dental, and emergency services to the greater Pecos Valley region.

 

 

Back to top