By Mary Alice Murphy

Gila Regional Medical Center opened a new clinic in Deming in August 2019. At a special Board of Trustees meeting on March 6, 2020, Interim Chief Executive Officer Richard Stokes, after discussion with the board members, made the recommendation to close the clinic, as it had not met the expected growth in number of patients and because of overall hospital financial concerns.

"We started the clinic in August, in order to be in place for winter, when the number of patients usually increases," Stokes told the Beat. "But it didn't pick up the numbers we expected. It's always financially prudent to jettison non-performing assets."

He said all employees have been given notice, and their last day to see patients is April 15. "We will vacate the building before the end of our lease on April 30," Stokes said.