Why this major NM practice will no longer deliver babies at Presbyterian Hospital

In a major shift impacting hundreds of patients, Women’s Specialists of New Mexico has announced it will no longer deliver babies at Presbyterian Hospital. The move, according to Dr. Jean Valdez of Women’s Specialists, is driven by the need to prioritize the physical and mental health of their physicians, who are already stretched thin.

“We can no longer stretch our physicians to cover two hospitals,” Valdez explained. “We have to take both the physical and mental wellbeing of our physicians in mind and can’t stretch them out too far.”

Currently, the practice operates with nine physicians providing 24-hour OB coverage. To meet the demand, they would need to double that number—an unachievable goal given the state’s severe shortage of medical professionals. Valdez highlighted several contributing factors to this crisis, including New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws, tax policies, and low Medicaid reimbursement rates.

This announcement underscores the broader healthcare challenges facing the state. New Mexico has long struggled with recruiting and retaining medical professionals, a situation exacerbated by rural geography, high crime rates, and a struggling education system. These systemic issues, coupled with the economic realities of practicing in the state, have created what many describe as a “crippling shortage” of doctors and other healthcare providers.

On the same day as this announcement, Democratic leaders in the Legislature revealed their plans to address the healthcare provider shortage. The proposed measures include housing subsidies and mandates for specific nursing ratios. However, critics argue these initiatives fail to address the underlying policy issues highlighted by experts like Valdez.

State Rep. Eleanor Chavez (D-Albuquerque), a key proponent of the plan, claimed, “Corporate greed is a driver of the [health care] crisis.” However, this explanation has faced significant pushback. Observers point out that the challenges in healthcare stem from deeper structural issues, such as the third-party payment system, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement policies, Obamacare regulations, and burdensome occupational licensure requirements. New Mexico’s poor economic climate and historically high crime rates further complicate efforts to attract and retain healthcare workers.

Critics argue that while Democratic leadership acknowledges the problem, their approach does little to address the core barriers preventing medical professionals from choosing New Mexico. As one analysis from the Rio Grande Foundation notes, “Democrats don’t want to address what the EXPERT says is the issue which involves fundamental policy change. Instead, they’d like to blame ‘corporate greed’ and do nothing.”

The decision by Women’s Specialists reflects the real-world consequences of these systemic issues. Without significant reforms to address malpractice laws, economic incentives, and the broader challenges facing healthcare providers, New Mexico’s doctor shortage is likely to persist, leaving patients and providers to bear the burden.