DoH announces new public health orders

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health announced a pair of new public health emergency orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The orders, effective Friday through Jan. 4, limit non-essential surgeries and activated “crisis care” standards by outlining credentialing processes for COVID-19 health care providers.

Under the order, executed by Acting Health Secretary Billy Jimenez, all hospital acute care facilities in the state may not provide non-essential surgical procedures. Non-essential surgeries are defined in the order to include procedures that may be delayed without undue risk to the patient’s health. The order outlines criteria to be considered in distinguishing between essential and non-essential procedural needs.

Plains Regional Medical Center decided last month it would postpone elective surgeries to designate more resources to treating COVID-19 patients, and Roosevelt General Hospital had operated with a reduction in elective surgeries.

“Our contingency plan incorporates cross-training Operating Room (OR) medical staff to assist with emergency room and inpatient services,” Dr. Kris Vigil, Chief Nursing Office at Roosevelt General Hospital and Clinics, said in a release. “This allows RGH to continue providing quality and safe care to the community,”

Nothing in the emergency order applies to the provision of emergency medical care or any medical actions necessary to provide for urgent or emergency medical needs; or to any surgery or procedure that would result in the worsening of a serious condition, if not performed.