Lovelace to break ground on new urgent care clinic in Bernalillo

Lovelace Health System officials will host a groundbreaking Thursday for a new urgent and primary care facility in Bernalillo.

The facility marks the company’s first “neighborhood model” of a primary and urgent care hybrid separate from medical complexes, said Michael Kueker, Lovelace Medical Group CEO. Construction on the facility, located at 554 Venada Plaza Drive, is expected to be completed in December.

Building developer Oman-Gibson Associates and Facet Architectural Design are aiding in the $5.3 million project.

Lovelace Health System oversees five hospitals, 33 health care clinics and seven outpatient therapy clinics.

“We’re looking at the footprint of where Lovelace has services, where rooftops are, where the growth of the greater Albuquerque area is — (and) there’s a high growth area there in Rio Rancho, Bernalillo,” Kueker said.

The news follows the December acquisition of six NextCare Urgent Care clinics in New Mexico by Ardent Health, Lovelace’s parent company. Those urgent care locations — four of which are in Albuquerque, one in Rio Rancho and another in Taos — will rebrand under the Lovelace banner later this year, spokesperson Whitney Alcantar said.

A variety of primary care services will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Bernalillo location. Three full-time providers have been selected and will move or open practices in the location upon opening.

Urgent care services are available by appointment or walk-in seven days a week with extended hours with a single provider. Kueker estimates 15 staffers and four providers will run the facility.

Discussions about creating the Bernalillo facility have been in the works for nearly a year, he said. Highlighting the struggle to see physicians in New Mexico, the center provides citizens health care access and convenience.

“Primary care should be a neighborhood thing, so we’re trying to think about that — putting primary care where you live so you don’t have to travel down to the hospital to see your primary care provider,” Kueker said.