Portales, New Mexico

6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5 PORTALES , NEW MEX I CO According to the United States Census Bureau, about 60 million people, or one in five Americans, live in rural America. In New Mexico, that equates to about 33% of the population. This statistic alone is enough to argue the importance of critical care hospitals in rural communities. Roosevelt General Hospital (RGH) has been serving Roosevelt County and surrounding areas for the last 20 years. RGH plays an essential and integral role in the healthcare system and provides significant contributions to the welfare of residents. “As a resident of a rural community, I know first- hand the importance of having convenient access to primary healthcare and emergency care,” declares RGH CEO, Kaye Green. “The quality healthcare we provide helps to promote the overall physical well-being of our residents by preventing disease, improving quality of life, increasing life expectancy, and early diagnosis and treatment of illnesses.” Over the last decade, many rural hospitals were forced to close because of the major challenges they are facing. This has initiated a critical gap in healthcare for rural communities. While some rural hospitals have shut their doors, Roosevelt General Hospital is expanding to support the nearly 18,500 residents in Roosevelt County, NM. “We choose to expand our Emergency Department to provide a much-needed service to the residents of Portales and surrounding towns,” Green states. The newly constructed emergency department offers a 24/7 physician-staffed emergency room with ten private beds, behavioral health safe room and an isolation room. Patients have access to world-class, affordable care in a convenient location, close to home. RGH is committed to safeguarding the health of the members of the community it serves. Growth plans for the hospital go hand-in-hand with community needs. RGH pledges to do the best to improve lives of the patients for many years to come. ...... For more information, please visit our website www.MyRGH.org Austin’s eldest daughter enjoys the atmosphere in the town so much that when she graduates next year, she’s chosen to attend Eastern New Mexico University. In fact, many students choose to stay in Portales and usually take on positions at the city, the university, Cannon Air Force Base (just 11 miles from the city), or they start their own business. From a residential aspect, the city has a large housing stock with prices comparable to the surrounding area. There are three developers now building homes in Portales with apartments in the works, a housing district being built, and eight new detached houses under construction. Another developer is seeking permits for four more homes. In other good news, Bruce and Tabitha Nixon are