LINCOLN COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER

Celebrating National Rural Healthcare Day: Strengthening Access to Care and Nursing Opportunities in Lincoln County

Many of us cannot imagine living anywhere other than a rural community like Ruidoso and Lincoln County. Approximately 19% of Americans live in a rural area, and healthcare is a key component to our ability to choose to live in a rural area. On November 21, 2024, we will celebrate National Rural Healthcare Day.

Rural communities face challenges with recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals to address their healthcare needs. Lincoln County faces many of those challenges as well. However, working with ENMU-Ruidoso to support a local registered nursing program is key to our success in meeting our community’s nursing needs. In addition, LCMC and the Medical Center Auxiliary provide scholarships to local graduates pursuing careers in healthcare. We do this in hopes that these individuals will return home after their training to support our community.

Living rural presents challenges from time to time. But LCMC works to grow access to care for our community. With operating clinics in Carrizozo, Corona, Capitan and Hondo, as well as our multi-specialty clinic in Ruidoso, LCMC will continue to assess opportunities to expand the services we provide to the communities we serve.