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| Celebrating Progress in Patient Safety and Quality
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May is a very special month in healthcare – a time to recognize nurses, hospital teams, and the shared commitment that drives compassionate, high-quality care. It is also the ideal time to celebrate meaningful progress, which is why we are proud to share exciting news about our continued progress in advancing patient safety and quality.
This spring, our hospital achieved an important milestone: we improved our Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade from a “C” to a “B,” and our CMS star rating advanced from 1 to 2 stars. These improvements reflect the dedication, expertise, and teamwork of our physicians, nurses, and staff, who work tirelessly every day to deliver safe, compassionate and reliable care for our patients and community.
These gains are more than just numbers and rankings – they represent meaningful improvements in how we care for patients, support families, and foster a culture of safety across our organization. Our progress is the result of countless hours spent reviewing processes, implementing evidence-based practices, and collaborating across departments.
We also know that quality improvement is not a destination, but an ongoing journey. While we are encouraged by this progress, we remain focused on continuous improvement and transparency. Our goal is to keep raising the bar – ensuring every patient receives safe, effective care and a positive experience at Memorial Medical Center.
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| Looking Back At A Month Dedicated To Highlighting
The People Who Make Care Possible: Nurses Week
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A heartfelt thank you to the City of Las Cruces for officially proclaiming May 6-12 as Nurses Week. Our nursing leadership team joined representatives from area healthcare organizations to receive this very meaningful proclamation at City Hall.
Nurses are the heart of healthcare — bringing compassion, skill, and unwavering dedication to every patient they serve. Whether in moments of joy, uncertainty, or challenge, they are there, making a difference that truly matters.
Their impact goes far beyond clinical care. Through compassion, they provide comfort and dignity. Through communication, they build trust with patients and families. Through commitment, they deliver the highest standards of care. And through competence, they demonstrate the expertise that defines nursing excellence.
During our Nurses Week celebrations here at Memorial, our nurses had the opportunity to enjoy a variety of fun, meaningful, and educational events created to celebrate everything they do for our patients and community. From our Nurses Breakfast, pizza nights, sundae bars, brunches, snacks and special nurse gifts, to educational “Image of Nursing” sessions and conferences held throughout the week, every event was a chance to connect, learn, and feel appreciated.
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| Hospital Week And Our Employee Service Awards
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Our Rock Concert Service Awards on May 12th during Hospital Week were a smash hit, bringing together team members from every role and every department for a chart-topping night. Altogether, the employees we proudly recognized at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum represent a staggering 2,410 years of service.
Each milestone celebrated tells a unique story of dedication, compassion, growth, teamwork and the kind of work ethic that drives excellence in healthcare. Every awardee was a lead singer in their own right.
We are proud and thankful for all of our team members we recognized, but especially the following individuals meeting these very momentous milestones – including our very first 50-year awardee!
𝟓𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
Dedrian Gibbs, Laboratory
𝟒𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
Peter Alvarez, Pre- and Post-Op
Stephanie DeGruyter, Quality (Watch a video featurette here)
Paula Martinez, Ultrasound
𝟒𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
Julie Howard, Cancer Center
Joann Ketcherside, MIS
𝟑𝟓 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
Annette Diaz, Pathology
Jayne Milavec, Interventional Radiology
Bertha Munn, Emergency Department
Betty Pfiefer, Auxiliary
Saaed Shojaee, Laboratory
Lynda Taylor, Gift Shop/Auxiliary
𝟑𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬
Kathy Fusco, Auxiliary
Estela Garmong, Pre- and Post-Op
Olga Mendivil, Telecommunications
Laura Pierce, People Services
Robert Robinson, MRI
Javier Sanchez, Behavioral Health
Lydia Taylor, Administration
Daniel Villagrana, Security
Make sure to check out additional Service Awards and Hospital Week photos on our social media platforms!
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For this year's EMS Week (May 17-23), we proudly recognized the EMS professionals who answer the call every day with skill, compassion and dedication.
We capped off the week by hosting a special breakfast and presenting gifts to acknowledge and honor the incredible work of our local EMS partners. Whether responding to emergencies, providing lifesaving care or supporting patients during some of their most difficult moments, EMS crews are an essential part of the care team and a critical link in our communities.
While we enjoyed taking the time to recognize their hard work, one week of appreciation will never truly be enough to thank them for the challenging and important work they do each and every day. We sincerely thank you for your commitment, courage and the countless lives you impact across our communities. Your work does not go unnoticed.
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| Announcing Our Mercy Award Winner: Andrew Cummins
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We are very proud to announce that Andrew Cummins, our Director of Marketing & Communications, has been recognized as the hospital’s 2026 Mercy Award winner. The Mercy Award recognizes one employee from each of Lifepoint Health’s facilities who profoundly touches the lives of others and best represents the spirit and values on which the company was founded. The award is considered the highest honor a Lifepoint employee can receive.
Andrew leads a Marketing and Communications pair that is routinely recognized as one of the top teams across all of Lifepoint Health. From video shoots and social media campaigns to media relations and community events – and countless other duties to support the hospital’s day-to-day operations – Andrew has his fingerprints all over documenting and contributing to Memorial’s impacts both inside and outside the walls of the hospital.
“With his ingenuity, kindness, work ethic, collaborative spirit, and welcome sense of humor, Andrew undoubtedly exemplifies this year’s Mercy Award theme of ‘Inspired by Mission, Driven by Heart,’” said Dennis Knox, chief executive officer of Memorial Medical Center. “He genuinely looks forward to uplifting and showcasing how we’re making a tremendous impact in our community each and every day. Andrew’s behind-the-scenes magic as a hospital leader is now center stage for all to see.”
Andrew will tell you it’s easy to do his job when there are so many amazingly talented and caring people at MMC – from bedside staff to those working in the background just like him.
Outside of his formal job duties, Andrew participates in a number of organizations that are both professionally and personally fulfilling to him: Rio Grande Honor Flight – for which he served as a Guardian on Mission 20, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Las Cruces, the Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation, and Memorial’s Team Member Satisfaction Committee.
Congratulations, Andrew!
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| Video: Reflecting On Memorial Day
And Proudly Serving Those Who Served
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As we reflected and remembered this past Memorial Day weekend, we honored the brave men and women who have served our country and the sacrifices they made for our freedom. Their courage is woven into every liberty we enjoy, and their sacrifice echoes through the generations who follow them.
One of the ways in which we honor this legacy is by supporting organizations such as the Rio Grande Honor Flight, which goes above and beyond to show gratitude and respect to all veterans.
Rio Grande Honor Flight Mission 21 was another profound and meaningful journey, giving area veterans the opportunity to visit the monuments and memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C. More than a trip, Honor Flight is a powerful experience filled with remembrance, gratitude, and connection.
In this video, Memorial Medical Center employees Maurice “Mo” Cox and James Wilcox reflect on their experience serving as Guardians for veterans on Mission 21. From unforgettable moments in our nation’s capital to the emotional welcome home celebrations, they share what it meant to stand beside and support those who served.
At MMC, we are proud to continue supporting the Rio Grande Honor Flight and honoring the legacy of our veterans.
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| Stroke Awareness Month:
Time Lost Is Brain Lost
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At Memorial Medical Center, stroke awareness is not just a monthly message. As explained by our Stroke Coordinator, Jesse Martinez, MSN, RN, CMSRN, stroke awareness is part of our daily commitment to the patients and families we serve here in Las Cruces and our surrounding communities.
Day in and day out, our clinical teams see firsthand how quickly stroke can change a life. We also see how fast action can make all the difference. The most important step is recognizing the signs using the acronym BE FAST (spelled out in the graphic) and acting immediately.
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| Employee Spotlight: Nicole Chacon
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May 2026 will go down as one of the most celebratory – and busiest – months in Nicole Chacon’s life. But knowing her, there’s still likely many, many more accomplishments and celebrations to come.
Nicole this month marked her 20th anniversary as a Pharmacy Technician at Memorial Medical Center’s annual Employee Service Awards, earned her nursing degree from New Mexico State University, and accepted a new job as a registered nurse in Memorial’s bustling Emergency Department. It was an absolute blur, but in the best of ways.
She was also one of three NMSU School of Nursing students to recently receive the prestigious Nightingale Award, a $2,500 scholarship stipend from the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence.
Nicole accomplished all of this while being a mom, meaning she essentially has held three full-time jobs for the last two-and-a-half years. Her constant drive stems from being a self-described “risk-taker” who continually challenges herself and wants to see what doors just may open next.
Congratulations, Nicole! You make us incredibly proud and we are thrilled to have you on the team!
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| Upcoming Community Events:
Help Us Celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day!
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Embark on our wonderful ocean odyssey. Anyone in our community who has cancer or who has had a cancer diagnosis in the past is invited to our 2026 National Cancer Survivors Day Celebration. This fun, ocean-themed event will be held in the Memorial Medical Center Annex Conference Rooms (west side of the hospital campus).
You and a guest are invited to enjoy games, entertainment, prizes and light refreshments. No need to RSVP!
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| Upcoming Community Events:
Men's Health Month Community Seminar
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