PRMC closing Melrose Clinic Oct. 1

The Melrose Clinic, which has been offering one day a week medical services in Melrose since May 2023, is to be closed effective Oct. 1.

The notice of closure came during the Curry County Commission's regular meeting Tuesday as Plains Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Bill Priest gave a presentation in the session.

"Traffic volume is low. Volume is needed to sustain the facility. This is a problem nationwide. A community this size cannot sustain this," Priest said.

Commissioner Seth Martin responded: "There is somewhat of a need but not enough need. I hope it stays open."

Priest said many Melrose-area residents are using the clinic as an urgent care option.

Commission Chair Robert Thornton spoke of the receipt of an email from Melrose Mayor Meadow Forget in which the Oct. 1 closure was a topic of discussion at Monday's regular village council meeting.

Forget said Tuesday Priest spoke to the council about the clinic.

Forget said some community members had expressed disappointment at provider changes at the clinic over the years.

The clinic came about from an agreement between PRMC and Curry County. That agreement expired last month.

"Had I been here (at the time the agreement was drawn up) I would not have let this go through. It's not about Melrose, it's about the size of the community," Priest said.

"I don't believe the numbers are there to sustain this."

"So you're going to close Oct. 1?" Thornton asked.

"I don't see the utility of going past Oct. 1," Priest said.

Thornton asked if PRMC is required to reinvest in the community and couldn't that reinvestment be keeping the Melrose Clinic open.

"Community investment is defined in many ways. The Melrose Clinic is a loss," Priest said.

Commissioner Dusty Leatherwood said, "I think people just don't know about the Melrose Clinic."

In other business Tuesday:

• Commissioners heard from James Corbett and Brian Ferrans of Initium Health of Denver, the company helping regional authorities on the effort to build a Regional Behavioral Health Center.

Corbett highlighted progress on the project, which may be completed by the fall of 2026.

Ferrans detailed the efforts by Eastern New Mexico University and Clovis Community College in developing a workforce for the facility.

Thornton expressed concern the timeline for the project be moved up as construction costs are rising nationwide.

Martin said, "It's possible the facility might never be built."

• In discussion of future agenda items, Leatherwood is concerned over the development of the county's proposed sports complex, saying the cost was so high.

Pyle said at the next commission meeting, Sept. 10, commissioners will be considering a contract for architectural services on the sports complex.

• Commissioners approved a new agreement between Curry and Roosevelt counties for Curry County's housing of Roosevelt County detainees at $125 a day at the Curry County Adult Detention Center.

• Employment anniversary awards were handed out by commissioners for:

One year of service to Caitlin Bentley, Matthew Garcia, Andrew Holguin and Eric Holguin.

Five years of service to Jared Sloan.

25 years of service to Calvin Davis.