Las Cruces, New Mexico (March 12, 2020) – Memorial Medical Center is committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers, visitors and the community. We are continuing to work closely with the New Mexico Department of Health and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure our hospital is prepared with the appropriate plans to detect, protect and respond should anyone in our community contract or be exposed to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19). Additionally, we are reviewing our facility’s robust emergency operations plan and proactively completing a number of preparation checklists out of an abundance of caution. 

While we have not treated any patients with this virus at our hospital to date–and there have been no confirmed cases in our area of New Mexico–Memorial Medical Center has taken the following measures to prepare, in accordance with CDC guidelines: 

• Patients in the Emergency Department and inpatient units are screened based on their recent travel history. 
• Personal protective equipment is available, including face masks and eye protection, for example. 
• Hand hygiene products are easily accessible throughout the facility. 

Importantly, all of the above are standard operating protocols that are in place year-round to help ensure the health and well-being of everyone who enters our hospital. 

Additionally, beginning Friday, March 13th, the Memorial Medical Center Main Campus will be limiting entrance for visitors. 

All external entrance doors to MMC will be closed to entry; instead, all visitors are asked to enter the main entrance & annex entrances only. Visiting hours will be narrowed to between 4pm – 8pm. Each visitor will need to answer the four-question NMDH questionnaire every time they want to enter MMC. A maximum of two visitors at a time will be allowed per patient, only if they are over the age of 18 and confirmed “NO” responses to all four questions on the NMDH questionnaire.  

The Memorial HealthPlex will remain at its current level of restriction, with the addition of visitors being required to complete the four-question NMDH questionnaire at the admissions desk inside the Main Entrance. 

Memorial Urgent Care & physician clinics will remain at their current level of restriction. Patients will be screened appropriate for the specific patient condition/illness. 

Again, we are committed to providing the highest quality care and ensuring the safety of our patients, employees, providers, volunteers, visitors and the community. 

We want to assure our community that our providers and clinical teams are well-trained and prepared to manage outbreaks of viruses and infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 virus. For more information, contact the New Mexico Department of Health or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.