Serving Patients, Supporting Our Community at Carlsbad Medical Center

Nick Arledge, CEO

Carlsbad Medical Center plays an integral role in Carlsbad and Southeastern New Mexico thanks to the knowledgeable and compassionate people who work inside. During Hospital Week, May 11-17, we recognized and celebrated our caregivers for the difference they make each day.

When patients come through the doors of our hospital and our outpatient clinical care sites, it is our privilege to provide quality, compassionate medical care to help them get well and live healthier. And we are proud to play an important part in the health of Carlsbad and the larger region, with a collective impact in 2024 of approximately $109 million.

Delivering Medical Care

Across our hospital and clinical care sites, we delivered care and service at close to 135,000 patient encounters in 2024, including 26,000 emergency department (ED) visits where lifesaving, medically necessary care is provided to every patient, regardless of their ability to pay. Our ED supports the most vulnerable members of our community, including those who cannot fully afford their medical care, by offering care at a significantly reduced cost or no cost to the patient and working to connect them with resources for medications and medical support devices. Last year, we provided more than $54 million in charity and uncompensated care.

CMC’s designation as a Level III Trauma Center, along with the availability of high acuity services, has brought patients from across New Mexico, west Texas, and beyond, with more than 330 patients transferred to our hospital in 2024.

Strengthening Local Access to Healthcare

We are continuously investing resources to advance our medical care and services, support our workforce, and strengthen operations. Our capital projects totaled approximately $2 million last year and included renovation of second and third floor patient rooms and a remodeled lobby, kitchen, and cafeteria, along with the addition of a new, additional CT scanner. We also took steps to enhance access to healthcare with the addition of several primary care providers and specialists and the reopening of our pediatric clinic to meet the growing needs of the community.

Addressing Social Determinants of Health

In addition to the healthcare we provide, I am proud of our commitment to addressing other needs in our area. We support charitable organizations, including those that address social determinants of health, such as food insecurity. Through service projects such as our annual Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive and contributions to Carlsbad LifeHouse, the Faith, Hope & Love Foundation, and the United Way of Eddy County, we contribute to causes that strengthen our community and support better health for all.

Impacting the Local Economy

In 2024, CMC paid approximately $4 million in taxes, which support local infrastructure and civic services. As one of the largest employers in the area, we support the health of our local economy through the jobs we offer and the development of the future healthcare workforce. We work with Southeast New Mexico College to assist in the training and employment of nursing graduates. And our affiliation with the Permian Strategic Partnership and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is bringing Family Practice Physicians to Carlsbad to complete their residencies while filling the need for more primary care providers in the community.

I’m proud of what Carlsbad Medical Center contributed to our community in 2024, and we couldn’t have done it without our great team of employees, strong relationships with the medical staff, and the trust placed in us by thousands of patients and their families. We are committed to continuing this journey to create a stronger, healthier Carlsbad together.