(Las Vegas, NM)—Oct. 5, 2023—Alta Vista Regional Hospital, an acute care hospital in Las Vegas, New Mexico, announced today that it achieved a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
“This designation marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing healthcare services to our community,” said Rob Nelson, Interim CEO of Alta Vista Regional Hospital. “Our nation is experiencing a rural healthcare crisis, with hospitals closing or on the brink of closure, across the country. Achieving a Critical Access Hospital designation helps to support the hospital to continue its essential role in delivering care to residents in our rural area.”
“To attain this designation, our teams underwent a rigorous evaluation process, meeting criteria for our ability to deliver local access to care, including emergency services, as well as, newly added occupational therapy and swing bed services,” said Nelson.
To be designated as a CAH, a Medicare-participating hospital meets the following criteria: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/certification-compliance/critical-access-hospitals.
“The contributions of our dedicated staff and members of the medical staff made this achievement possible, allowing us to continue serving the rural health needs of San Miguel County,” said Nelson.