University of New Mexico regents OK moving ahead on new hospital

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of New Mexico's plan to build a new hospital reached a significant milestone Tuesday when UNM's governing board voted to hire an architect to start advanced design work.

The design would focus on just the first phase, which includes 120 beds, six operating rooms and clinical offices. But the project is just the start of what UNM Health Sciences Center leaders see as the eventual replacement of all UNMH's adult-care units in its existing 1950s building – a structure that they argue is inadequate in both size and efficiency measures.

The Board of Regents' unanimous approval to proceed with the architectural planning – met with a round of applause from UNM's medical school faculty and other supporters at the meeting – marks a clear step forward for a yearslong UNMH expansion effort that has already stalled once.

“I think this is a very important day for our university, our community and our state,” UNMH CEO Steve McKernan told the Journal in an interview after Tuesday's vote. “It will allow us to continue to deliver and enhance high-quality care for a lot of patients.”

Read more: https://www.abqjournal.com/1048373/unm-regents-ok-moving-ahead-on-new-hospital.html