Top of Mind: What experiences and solutions come to mind regarding the state's health-care provider shortage?

Top of Mind is a weekly question about an issue affecting New Mexicans.

LAST WEEK’S QUESTION :

Have you had any experience with seeking health care that shows that the doctor shortage has gone beyond a mere inconvenience — and what ideas do you have to fix the problem?

A growing problem in the state and city is the quantity of medical professionals, staff and the wait time for appointments both in private and clinic practice.

It might be time to propose the concepts of Community Medical Infrastructure and franchises to provide and improve medical services in both rural and urban areas of New Mexico. Providing the physical facilities and technology would be the fixed assets to solicit growth. The state has the means to obtain the algorithms to find the optimum ratio of medical professionals, support personnel and physical facilities to (serve the) population of each NM community. This in turn would provide the type and space needed for medical facilities for that community. Land acquisition, architectural design and construction for the physical facilities could be the bases for franchises to attract the quality physicians to develop their practice. It would even out the variable expenses and risks physicians face and give a better medical environment for the population. Let tax dollars be the source of quantity — let the medical community be the source of quality.

— Bob Conway, Albuquerque

The health care industry has gone from a model of service, to one of profiteering. Health care facilities ask for funding and tax breaks while they sit on multi-billion dollar revenues, simultaneously understaffing and overworking their employees. Big medicine is putting profits over workers and thus, putting profits over patient care. …

Want to attract and retain providers? Bring humanity back to health care.

— Alexandra Padilla, Albuquerque

Surgery doesn’t guarantee a follow-up in NM. After months of waiting for an appointment, (an Albuquerque eye) surgeon removed my retinal tumor April 18. The doctor said to schedule a six-month follow-up with him, but he didn’t have any appointments available until next year. I was told to call back in February.

— Colleen Aycock, Albuquerque

As our population across the country continues to grow and age, why aren’t we keeping up with the ever-increasing demand for doctors by expanding our medical school capacity and admitting more qualified students to medical schools?

— Sam Lapin, Placitas

Moved here in 2014. Haven’t found a doctor in nine years. I’ve had an ongoing condition for almost six years and can’t see a specialist. I now have severe spinal stenosis. Could have been avoided. We’re in our late 60s. Sold our house. Moving out of this state.

— William Fritzsche, Albuquerque