Screening is important, because usually colorectal cancer is more treatable when it is found early, before it has had a chance to spread.

The most common and thorough screening is a colonoscopy, which is generally recommended for people over the age of 50. In this test, the rectum and entire colon are examined using a colonscope. During the test, precancerous and cancerous growths throughout the colon can be found and either removed or biopsied.

There are also other types of colorectal screening tests that can be administered including Fecal Occult Blood Test, Sigmoidoscopy, Virtual Colonoscopy and Double Contrast Barium Enema. To find out if you are a candidate for a colorectal cancer screening and which test is appropriate, contact your primary care provider or call College Clinic at 505-863-1820 to make an appointment with an internal medicine or family practice provider.

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Gallup Independent – October 6, 2012
By Bill Donovan

Independent correspondent

GALLUP — A local hospital is celebrating breast cancer awareness month by making it easier and less expensive for patients to get mammograms.

The Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services is offering mammogram screenings at a promotional rate of $75 throughout the month of October.

Ina Burmeister, a spokeswoman for the Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital, said this is mainly for those who have no insurance or those who have insurance with high co-pays. The hospital charges varying fees for screenings, but Burmeister said this is substantially below the usual cost for such tests.

The only requirement to get the screening, she said, is a referral from the person’s primary doctor.

The hospital will also be holding two Saturday mammogram clinics on Oct. 13 and 20. The clinics will be open 8 a.m.-noon.

For more information on these screenings or to make an appointment, calls the hospital’s imaging department at (505) 863-7015.

The American Cancer Society recommends that all women age 40 and older should have a mammogram screening every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. The screenings are also recommended for men who are at high risk to get breast cancer as well. In 2011, more than 230,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer along with 2,140 men.

In that same year, 39,520 women and 450 died from breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

RMCHCS is also partnering with Clear Channel radio on several community breast cancer awareness events, beginning with a breast cancer walk at 2 p.m. Sunday. This free event will begin at the McKinley County Courthouse Plaza and will end up at the RMCHCS parking lot.

Gallup Goes Pink will take place Oct. 12 and Pink Night Out will take place Oct. 19 at the Coal Street Pub, beginning at 5 p.m.

This event will also include a contest for the craziest pink outfit.

Information: (505) 863 7283.

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Gallup Independent – February 28, 2012

By Bill Donavan

GALLUP — Local hospital officials announced that Gallup may soon have a level 3 trauma center here.

Roger Gleisner, acting CEO at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital, said the hospital is in the final stages of getting a Level 3 trauma center designation, which will mean that certain types of trauma cases that are sent to other hospitals could be treated here.

The only hospital in this area with a Level 3 designation is in Farmington.

A Level 3 means a hospital has met certain criteria set either by the state or the American College of Surgeons, which includes having staff with the ability to treat most trauma patients.

Jeff Johnson, RMCH’s trauma center director, said the hospital would be required to have the necessary staff on call 24/7 and have them be available within a 30 minute time frame.

The hospital will be able to do that, he said, once it is able to provide backup to the current emergency operating personnel, which “is expected to happen within the next year.”

The benefits to residents in this area once that happens, he said, are enormous since it would mean that many trauma cases are airlifted or transported to Albuquerque and other places would be treated here.

“The quicker you can treat a patient the better,” he said.

Serious head injuries, which require a neurosurgeon or more advanced doctors who are not available here, would still have to be taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, the only Level 1 trauma center in the state.  There are no Level 2 trauma centers in the state.

RMCH has been working toward this goal for the past few years, and Gleisner said that the state has helped by providing a $106,000 grant to help the hospital pay for some of the costs to seek the Level 3 designation.

“If we were to pull out now, we would have to pay that money back,” he said.

He stressed that although the hospital is trying to overcome some financial difficulties, this has not affected the hospital’s efforts to qualify for a Level 3 designation since this can be done without putting on more staff.

But RMCH is not the only area hospital striving for Level 3 designation.

Officials at the Gallup Indian Medical Center are also going through the process of seeking that designation and said they are a year or so away from qualifying for it.

GIMC officials have also said that when they get that designation, they will not turn away anyone because they are non-Native who is picked up with a trauma injury.

When asked if it makes sense for both hospitals in the city to go after a Level 3 designation, he said it will give area residents a “freedom of choice” as to which hospital they want to be taken to.

He said if they don’t make a choice once both hospitals have a Level 3 designation, they would be taken to GIMC but they could opt to be taken to RMCH instead.

Johnson said that another factor to consider in both hospitals seeking Level 3 designation is the fact that GIMC is funded by the federal government and may be affected by “a changing political climate.”

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The Gallup Herald – February 29, 2012

By Joseph Kolb

GALLUP –  Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital is in the process of acquiring Level III Trauma Center accreditation that will greatly improve regional trauma care, said hospital officials Feb. 24.

Interim Chief Executive Officer Roger Gleisner said it would be at least a year before the process is complete but that such a program would be valuable to residents and the hospital.

“The cost to do this is not substantial and the impact on the volume of patients to the hospital can be significant,” Gleisner said.

To jump start the program, RMCH has received a $106,000 grant from the state to explore the feasibility of the program.

According to Jeff Johnson, RN, Trauma Coordinator for the hospital, there are three benefits to having Level III recognition.  Among these are increasing emphasis on trauma related education for staff which will increase their skill level; it will decrease the need to transport as many patients to Albuquerque who will be able to be treated locally; and increasing trauma prevention community education programs.

The key element to achieve this certification for the hospital is to establish operating teams that will be on-call 24-7.

Currently the state only has one Level I Trauma Center and that’s at University of New Mexico Hospital because it has a burn center, and in-house surgical and neurological teams.

A Level II Trauma Center does not have a burn center but does have the in-house surgical teams.  There are currently no Level II centers but St. Vincent’s Hospital in Santa Fe, NM, is in the process of acquiring this certification.  San Juan Regional Medical Center is a Level III trauma Center.

While RMCH is in the process of applying for Level III accreditation so too is their neighbor Gallup Indian Medical Center.

Gleisner said the GIMC plan did contribute to RMCH’s move to start a program.

“We want to preserve choice for the patient for the optimal place they want to go,” Gleisner said.

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