El Pueblo Health Services

In my role as a Nurse Educator, I have been involved with El Pueblo in Bernalillo, NM, for about 8 years, first in collaboration on several HRSA and school health grants, as a quality consultant, friend, and eternal advocate. I have witnessed all - from Executive Director, Medical Director, providers, staff, Board members - show up every day for their patients and community. Founded by community members in 1977, they are a rural serving clinic holding Look Alike status since 1991.

El Pueblo is the longest surviving clinic in town. As a Health Center Look Alike, without Federal 330 funding they struggle. In spite of that, over the past 8 years they have expertly and carefully managed to add prenatal services, integrate oral health then behavioral health, Suboxone, Hep C, palliative care, and this year - opening of a school based health center. Dental is still a dream depending on the vision for 330 funding as a "full fledged health center.”

Several of our nursing faculty have our clinical practices at El Pueblo. They precept our nursing students and medical students - all the time. They would have expanded further to precept pharmacy students as well, and then COVID-19 intervened. They have implemented telehealth, but that will not make up for an overnight drastic blow that Coronavirus has had on their critical operating revenue. They are hurting.

And yet they still show up for their patients, for their community. Every day. We need to help keep the Look Alikes alive as well as the health centers with 330 grants. The Look Alikes are even more vulnerable, yet held to the same quality standards as grantees. In our COVID-19 environment, many health centers and Look Alikes will end up closing - I’m certain many already have.

I propose that all existing Look Alikes should not only be included in emergency funding, but finally be given 330 grantee status while they still have their doors open.

Jan Martin, Community Member