Emergency Department

24/7 CARE - Carlsbad Medical Center provides emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the Emergency Department.  The Emergency Department has 12 patient care beds designed for greater privacy, plus a trauma care room, new monitors and a patient call system.  CMC's ER earned a Level III Trauma Care Center designation in 2007 -- the first awarded by the state in Southeast New Mexico, further enhancing trauma-level patient care and facilitating transfers to higher-level trauma centers in New Mexico and Texas.

The Emergency Department treats an average of 55 patients daily.  We structure our patient treatment using a five-level triage system, endorsed by the Emergency Nurses Association, according to the resources required for each level of patient care.

ER staff includes four full-time physicians, one part-time physician, and two full-time nurse practitioners.  Two medical providers are on duty to ensure that ER patients receive prompt care.  Our goal is to exceed the healthcare and customer service expectations of our patients and their families.  All Emergency Department staff are certified in CPR, advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced cardiac life support and trauma nurse core certification.

ER FRIENDS - The staff of our ER initiated the ER Friends project for patients 12 and younger in 2008 to create a more positive experience for children at the Emergency Department.  ER Nursing Director Connie Willis, R.N., explains that sick and injured children arriving for treatment in the ER are often anxious or afraid.  At discharge, they can view a cuddly stuffed animal and enter their name in a monthly drawing to win the furry friend.