Kalli Wolf, APRN, FNP-C, now providing services four days per weekIn February 2023 the Mimbres Valley Health Action League (MVHAL) reached out to Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS), community members, and other healthcare stakeholders in Grant County in attempts to resolve the issue of nonexistent healthcare in the Valley. HMS's Mimbres Valley Clinic (2743 Hwy 35 N) had been closed since December 31, 2o22, and Valley residents who had gotten used to having available healthcare relatively close by, now had to travel to Santa Clara or Silver City.

In March 2023, with an assist from Jamie Newton, MVHAL hosted a Zoom meeting with HMS CEO Dr. Dan Otero, DBA as the featured guest. In addition to Valley residents and members of MVHAL's board of directors, notable participants of the meeting included Priscilla Lucero, executive director of Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments; Randy Hernandez, Grant County's planning & community development director; and Dr. Stacey Cox, CEO of the Center for Health Innovation.

Marisa Shapiro, CNP, and her clinic reopening teamDuring the meeting, Otero answered myriad questions, updated participants on the status of HMS's efforts to resume healthcare service and pledged to serve as HMS's liaison to the Mimbres Valley, for which MVHAL serves as advocate. Both MVHAL and Otero agreed to follow through on several action items.

Although some of those action items have yet to be acted upon, the highest priority action items most certainly were. In fewer than three weeks after the Zoom meeting, the Mimbres Valley Clinic was reopened, albeit one day per week, with outstanding service provider Marisa Shapiro, CNP and her team (Serena Milligan, Esmia Ortiz, and Janet Briones) delivering quality healthcare service.

In subsequent interactions, Otero assured MVHAL and the community that HMS was continuing its diligent efforts to find a permanent and full-time provider and was making headway on opening a new clinic site by fall of 2023 or spring of 2024. Well, three months after the limited reopening of the Mimbres Valley Clinic, a new provider has begun caring for Valley residents full time.

Mimbres Valley Health ClinicOn July 18, HMS announced that Kalli Wolf, APRN, FNP-C, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified family nurse practitioner, will be providing services for our Mimbres Valley residents on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. (lunch from 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.). Marisa Shapiro will still provide services on Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. (lunch from 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.) as she has been for the past three months.

Otero and HMS have come through on the most important action item addressed at the Zoom meeting in March. Valley residents can only hope that the same will be the case with the new clinic to be situated on the same property as La Tienda del Sol restaurant on the corner of Highway 35 and San Francisco Street in San Lorenzo.

Sign for HMS Mimbres Valley Health ClinicTo make an appointment at the Mimbres Valley Clinic, call 575-536-3990.