Pictured from Left to Right: Mary Manning, RN, Sally Armijo, RN, Anabel Ramirez, Laboratory & Radiology Technician, Albert Diaz, Director of Nursing, Darla Madero, Patient Specialist, OperationsHidalgo Medical Services has expanded its mobile health capabilities in alignment with the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) national efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. HMS has purchased a Mobile Health Unit, with Federal funds, allocated specifically for supporting testing of community members throughout both Hidalgo and Grant Counties. “We want to test as many community members as possible to support contact tracing efforts by the state and HRSA,” stated Dan Otero, HMS CEO. Contact tracing is the process of identifying individuals who may have come into contact with an infected person, to assist in slowing the spread of the virus. According to Albert Diaz, HMS Director of Nursing,

“As of Wednesday, June 24, we have tested a total of 1224 individuals since the pandemic reached Hidalgo and Grant Counties, and of those tested, there have been 33 positive cases, 1032 negative, 158 pending, with 1 inconclusive.

The HMS Mobile Health Unit will be traveling to smaller communities on a pre-scheduled basis so that individuals can get tested without having to travel to the current clinic locations that HMS currently offers testing now. The main HMS testing centers include the Lordsburg Main Clinic, located at 530 DeMoss Street, and the Community Health Center, located at 1007 N. Pope Street in Silver City. The mobile clinic will begin services next week with a visit to Animas on Tuesday, June 30, and Cliff-Gila on Thursday, July 2, positioned in front of the HMS clinics in those areas. Additional rural areas will be serviced over the coming weeks. To schedule a time to be tested for COVID-19, please call (888) 271-3596.