CHRISTUS Health

Our adult inpatient behavioral health program in Southern New Mexico provides individualized treatment for adults who suffer from emotional, behavioral or mental health disorders.

The inpatient unit offers acute inpatient treatment for individuals with a primary psychiatric diagnosis. The outpatient program provides an intensive outpatient treatment Monday through Friday in the least restrictive environment and patients are able to return to their homes each evening. Medication management services are also offered.

After hours, please contact the Inpatient Unit at 575-446-5310. If you or a family member feel overwhelmed, unable to cope, extremely anxious, or have thoughts of wanting to harm yourself or someone else, please come to the Emergency Department.

Advanced Care Is Just A Heartbeat Away. Our fully equipped and state-of-the-art cardiac cath lab offers diagnostic and interventional treatment of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases. Sharper images are taken by our Phillips Allura Xper FD20 digital imaging system. This advanced technology permits physicians to provide better diagnoses with lower radiation exposure.

Our cardiac rehabilitation program focuses on helping you get your heart healthy again through specially individualized treatment plans.

Program Benefits

• 20-30% reduction in all-cause mortality rates
• Decreases mortality at up to 5 years post participation
• Reduced symptoms (angina, dyspnea, fatigue)
• Reduction in nonfatal recurrent myocardial infarction over median follow-up of 12 months
• Improves adherence with preventive medications
• Increased exercise performance
• Improved lipid panel (total cholesterol, HDL [good cholesterol], LDL [bad cholesterol], and triglycerides)
• Increased knowledge about cardiac disease and its management
• Enhanced ability to perform activities of daily living
• Improved health-related quality of life
• Improved psychosocial symptoms (reversal of anxiety and depression, increased self-efficacy)
• Reduced hospitalizations and use of medical resources
• Return to work or leisure activities

Cardiopulmonary is a full-service department providing care to all ages on an inpatient, outpatient, and emergency basis. These services are sensitive to the needs of the patient, physician, and community and are consistent with the mission of the hospital.

Respiratory therapists use a variety of diagnostic tests and treatments to treat or prevent breathing problems for patients diagnosed with COPD, bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, and pneumonia. Tests such as blood gas analysis (a sample of blood from an artery) and pulmonary function studies are performed to determine the severity of illness or to determine the effectiveness of treatment.

Cardiovascular exams are performed using state-of-the-art equipment to determine the condition of the heart and circulation. These exams may include an EKG (a graph of the electrical activity of the heart), Holter monitor (a recording of one’s heartbeat for 24-48 hours), echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart), or a stress test (an exercise test performed on a treadmill that measures a patient’s heart and lung activity).

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is performed by trained technologists and they consist of recordings of brain wave activity that is analyzed by a neurologist to determine if any abnormality, such as seizure or epilepsy, exists.

CHRISTUS Diabetic Education is provided by our certified diabetes care and education specialists to empower patients to take an active role in the management of their health.

Services offered include:

• Diabetes self-management and training (DSMT) group classes
  (EMPOWER Diabetes Group classes will be offered once the patient is established with the clinic)
• Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
  Educator can only place device and provide education, referral required
• Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for:
  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
  • Kidney Transplant (within the last 36 months)
  • Gestational Diabetes (GDM)
  • Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
  • Adolescent/Teens BMI > 95% PERCENTILE
  • Cancer
  • Weight management

* Please call our office if you have a specific diagnosis not listed

Our services are available by physician referral only. A referral must be obtained from the patient’s primary care provider or a specialist with a qualifying diagnosis. We also accept referrals from Pediatrics.

Our modern facility offers a variety of diagnostic modalities, including CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound, Radiology, PET/CT, and Interventional Radiology.

Each modality has highly trained, friendly technicians who are always willing to answer all your questions. Each modality is located in a private suite.

Many of the regular X-ray procedures are done on a walk-in basis. The diagnostic imaging department is staffed 24 hours for emergencies and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for routine X-rays and scheduled procedures.

Please allow 24-48 hours to pick up a CD of your procedure. You can also download your procedure in the privacy of your home. Ask a member of our team for more information.

We offer the following services:

• All services related to peripheral and vascular access and ports
• Blood draws and transfusions
• Intravenous therapies
• IV hydration
• IV antibiotic infusions
• IV anti-emetic therapy
• Remicade
• IVIG
• Immunomodulators
• Port and catheter maintenance

There are five comfortable reclining chairs with televisions.

Our CAP-accredited 24-hour laboratory is conveniently located directly off the main hospital entrance. We provide laboratory services to our inpatient, outpatient and our local nursing home patients. Our on-site pathologist and staff provide pathology services.

Preparing for laboratory testing

Bring a picture ID, insurance cards, and your physician’s order to our registration department before presenting to your scheduled appointment. Many laboratory tests require fasting. If you are instructed to fast before your test, avoid food and drinks 6-8 hours before having your blood drawn.

CHRISTUS in Alamogordo offers an occupational and wellness program through WellnessWorks to help bridge the gap between employers and health care providers. Our consultant works with your local businesses to provide easy access to health care services that can help improve your workforce's overall health and wellness.

Our goal is to help you keep your employees well.

Services we provide include:

• Occupational Health Services (Injury Prevention)
• Workers’ Compensation Services (Injury Intervention)
• Preventive Health/Wellness Programs
• Group Health Services

Want your medication before you leave the hospital?

Our pharmacy is conveniently located inside the hospital’s main corridor.

Bedside delivery is also available – just ask your nurse for more information!

• Open 6 days a week
• Bill most insurances
• Shingles, Pneumonia, and Flu vaccines administered
• Pharmacist available for medication counseling
• FREE home delivery service
• Curbside pickup

We want you to breathe easy!

The pulmonary rehabilitation program at CHRISTUS Health is designed to tailor an individual plan for each participant. The goal of our entire pulmonary rehabilitation team is to enable you to control your breathing. Our staff is focused on assisting you in maximizing the benefits of your treatment program. We encourage you to ask questions and express your concerns so that our program will provide the benefit that you need.

What to know

When you come into our facility for your initial evaluation with our program coordinator, you will be provided questionnaires, our phone number and appointment dates for your rehabilitation sessions. After evaluations are completed, our medical team will discuss your needs and determine an initial plan of care and exercise for you to begin your treatment program.

• Rehabilitation sessions last approximately one hour and include warm-up, stretching, aerobic conditioning, strengthening and cool down. During each session you will be allowed to work at your own speed and tolerance at workloads prescribed by the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team. Your endurance will improve as you become conditioned in a safe and supervised environment.
• A therapist will monitor your tolerance to exercise and make adjustments as necessary while the respiratory therapist monitors your oxygen level, vital signs, and assures that your breathing is under control.
• Please notify us of any troubling signs or questions you might have, so your exercise can be adjusted approximately. We expect you to make us aware of any concerns that you have.
• The rehabilitation staff will assist you in monitoring your heart rate and “rate of perceived dyspnea” during your exercise session to help you develop self-management techniques for use at home and after your program.

Our wound center is dedicated to healing wounds, preventing lower limb loss and optimizing outcomes for our patients. If you or a loved one has a wound that is of concern or is not healing properly, we encourage you to visit our wound center for an evaluation. A wound that is not healing properly may be complicated by underlying conditions such as diabetes, circulation problems or previous radiation treatment. Sometimes, the simplest of wounds can turn into a significant problem because the body’s normal healing process is affected. Other types of hard-to-heal wounds result from pressure, trauma or infection. Non-healing wounds can have serious health consequences and may adversely affect your quality of life.

Our wound healing center is staffed with a multidisciplinary team of physicians, along with nurses and technicians with advanced training in wound care, who will customize the most effective treatment plan to stimulate healing. Comprised of general physicians, vascular and plastic surgeons, podiatrists and infectious disease physicians, our team is dedicated to providing the most advanced healing options to patients, allowing them to recover as quickly and completely as possible. As wound healing specialists, our clinicians have a proven track record of healing wounds – even those that have not responded to other treatments.

Depending on the type of wound, the treatment plan may include:

• Infection control
• Restoration of blood flow
• Debridement (removal of dead tissue)
• Offloading
• Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy
• Skin substitutes
• Compression therapy
• Foot reconstruction
• Skin graft or flap

Following your treatment is the single most important factor in your healing. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.