Nearly all counties in the state are experiencing a shortage of health care professionals. This situation is delaying patient care and worsening physician burnout, according to state officials and medical groups.
The Legislative Finance Committee, in its December 2024 report, found that 32 of the 33 counties are classified as “health professional shortage areas.” Cicero Institute projects the shortage could deepen in the coming years, estimating a lack of 2,118 physicians by 2030.
A survey of 17,897 physicians conducted by the Finance Committee found that two in three doctors are considering leaving the state. Of the total respondents, about 9 out of 10 (94 percent) said the shortage already affects their daily work.
Health care delayed, burnout
Robert Underwood said doctors continue to attend to patients despite the growing strain on the health system. “Patients need to be seen, and so we do our best to keep trying to see those patients,” Underwood, the president of the New Mexico Medical Society, told Straight Arrow News.
He said, however, that the shortage often results in longer waiting times and delays in treatment, particularly when patients need to be referred to specialists. Health care providers are also battling to address a backlog of patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a backlog when routine checkups and preventive screenings were postponed.
Services such as colonoscopies, cardiac stress tests, and other preventive screening procedures are now in higher demand. But there are not enough doctors to handle the workload, Underwood said.
The situation has contributed to physician burnout. In turn, the burnout leads to early retirements and workforce shortages. “It becomes a vicious cycle,” Underwood said.
Rural communities hardest hit
The shortage is more pronounced in rural areas, where access to care is already limited. Underwood said some areas have effectively become “medical islands.” Residents in these areas struggle to find nearby physicians or health care facilities.
State Senator Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) shared her experience of the shortage while trying to find a new primary care provider. “My primary care provider retired,” Trujillo told SAN. “I signed up for another one, and before I even got into the appointment to see that person, I received a letter saying that person was leaving.”
“At first I thought it was just bad luck,” she added. “But the reality is that it kept happening.”
Julia Ruetten of the New Mexico Hospital Association noted that workforce challenges in rural areas are also linked to broader economic changes. “Younger professionals are less likely to stay in smaller communities,” she said. Some rural areas have lost major industries and institutions over the past decades, Ruetten added.
Hospitals face uneven pressures because of the situation. Rural hospitals often struggle with having too few patients, while hospitals in urban areas face overcrowding and high demand.
State government response
State lawmakers have introduced several measures that sought to address the growing health workforce gap.
The state budget includes $546 million to construct a new facility for the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Another $24 million was allocated to expand rural medical residency programs, while $2 million was set aside to increase salaries for medical residents and fellows.
During the recent 30-day legislative session, the lawmakers also passed several measures that aimed at strengthening the recruitment and retention of health professionals. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bills into law.