LAMC CEO Michael Covert speaks to Kiwanis Club members. Courtesy photo

BY BROOKE DAVIS
Kiwanis Club

At their September 14 th meeting, the Kiwanis Club hosted Michael Covert, the CEO of the Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC), who described the mission, vision, organization, needs and goals of the institution. He brings to LAMC an extensive background in health care, including running hospitals in both Georgia and California, and managing the Washington Hospital Center.

With an underlying mission to make our community better, LAMC has a vision of creating a space where people choose to come for healthcare, providers want to practice, and employees want to work. Covert spoke highly of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, Medical Staff, and Support Staff and the patient care they provide.

The hospital has 198 full-time employees and 18 contract labor, including 3 executive officers, 42 nurses, 3 physicians and 2 midwives. There are in addition, 32 telehealth medical providers in cardiology, psychiatry, and neurology. The 41 on-site specialties include general surgery, emergency room, orthopedics, pulmonary, gastroenterology, and urology. There are over 500 admissions a year, 1281 surgeries. 42,500 outpatient visits, nearly 7500 ER visits, 35 beds and 10 emergency beds.

Covert sees an urgent need for recruitment and expansion of care. Because a number of physicians have left or retired over the last several years, and due to growth of LANL and an aging population, there is a strong need for primary care physicians and he hopes to recruit at least 4 more. LAMC is looking to recruit and expand cardiac support, orthopedics, gastroenterology, urology, dermatology, allergy, and pulmonology. Consistent emergency physicians, radiologists, and pathologists are also needed. Staffing support is also key for nursing, imaging, physical therapy, and OR.

Future focus will be given to improving the quality of the patient experience, maintaining high accreditations, investments in the facility and equipment. A new MRI is scheduled for the beginning of November and specific focus will be given to a new CT scanner and radiology room. Community involvement, with activities such as the Flu Shot Drive, LANL Heart Health Expo, and Public-School events, continues to be an important LAMC function.