Bill funds healthcare that ‘grows itself’

A bill that would allocate $1.1 million to the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community Career Program could help address gaps in New Mexico’s health care industry. said the bill’s sponsor. The shortage of health care providers is a national problem that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]

A bill that would allocate $1.1 million to the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community Career Program could help address gaps in New Mexico’s health care industry. said the bill’s sponsor.

While the health care worker shortage is a nationwide problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, New Mexico’s health care worker shortage is particularly acute in rural areas. In response to a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists, the New Mexico Hospital Association and New Mexico Department of Human Services proposed last fall to create a telehealth prenatal and postnatal program for rural patients.

Related: Efforts underway to build telemedicine prenatal and postnatal services for rural patients

State Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque) sponsored the bill and defined HB 35 as a “grow your own” program. New Mexico Political Report this week. The program is not just for college and medical school, but also funds K-12 programs that encourage young people to consider careers in the health professions.

Herndon said one way to help high school students is to encourage them to start as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) right out of high school. Students can then continue to climb the nursing ranks to become a registered nurse (RN) or go to medical school to become a doctor, she said.

Dr. Valerie Romero-Legotto, physician, vice president, and executive officer of diversity, equity, and inclusion at UNM Health Sciences Center, said the program is designed to help diverse students from kindergarten through high school prepare for medical careers and health care careers. Develop self-confidence in students so that they are interested in careers and understand that these professional career paths are achievable for them.

“With New Mexico facing a shortage of thousands of health care workers, the New Mexico Legislature will consider funding long-standing, dedicated programs that help fill the gap and improve the health and well-being of our communities. It’s reassuring that we’re doing well,” Romero-Legotto said during the program. Email.

Ultimately, Herndon hopes that allocating state funding to the plan will have a long-term impact on solving New Mexico’s higher-than-national-average maternal mortality rates for women of color. he said.

“look [former tennis star] Serena Williams. She has a lot of money, but giving birth almost killed her,” Herndon said, referring to black maternal mortality rates.

Nationally, Black and Indigenous women are three times and twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related illnesses, according to a recent report from KFF, a nonprofit organization that provides health policy research and news.

“It’s important to have a diverse group of health care providers to address health issues,” Herndon said.

Herndon said the bill is also important because it allows individuals who have traditionally been excluded from professional fields and institutions of higher education to now feel included.

“It’s not that anyone is excluded, but it’s a way to include people who are often excluded,” Herndon said.