FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GCRMC Strategic Visioning

For Immediate Release
May 5, 2023
CONTACT:
 
CHRISTUS Health
Leigh Strope
(469) 282-2563
leigh.strope@christushealth.org
 
GCRMC
Lillie Lewis
(575) 443-7850
LLewis@gcrmc.org
 
Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center Signs Non-Binding Agreement to Join CHRISTUS Health
Letter of Intent First Step to Grow Clinical Capabilities, Capital Improvements
 
IRVING, Texas, and ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico – CHRISTUS Health and Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center (GCRMC) announced today they have signed a nonbinding letter of intent to explore the hospital joining the international, not-for-profit health system.
 
“Our organizations share a strong commitment to providing exceptional and compassionate health care in the communities we serve,” said CHRISTUS Health President and CEO Ernie Sadau. “We are honored to have the opportunity to be a leader, partner and advocate for innovative health and wellness solutions in the community of Alamogordo.”
 
“The health care industry has continually evolved, with rural community hospitals like ours facing the strongest headwinds,” said Norm Arnold, Chair of the GCRMC Board of Trustees.  “In order to continue to meet the demands of our diverse, growing community, we have taken this important next step to join CHRISTUS Health, which shares our mission and vision and intends to help us ensure high-quality health care remains in this community for generations to come.”
 
Under the nonbinding agreement, CHRISTUS Health and Gerald Champion now enter exclusive negotiations with a goal of reaching a final agreement by early summer.
 
The two entities will continue discussions focused on elevating Gerald Champion’s mission to serve the community, leveraging the strength of the CHRISTUS network, investing in capital improvements, expanding recruitment and retention efforts and growing high-quality clinical capabilities.
 
“This year, we celebrate our hospital’s 74th anniversary and there is no better way to honor that legacy than to ensure we have the resources and financial support to care for our community well into the
future,” said Gerald Champion CEO Jim Heckert. “After a thorough, 18-month planning process, it is clear CHRISTUS can support our long-term goals while truly aligning with our mission and strengthening our already solid operational and financial foundation.”  
 
About CHRISTUS Health
 
CHRISTUS Health, based in Irving, Texas, is a Catholic, not-for-profit system with more than 600 health centers, including community hospitals, urgent care centers, health insurance companies and physician clinics. We are a community of more than 45,000 Associates and over 15,000 physicians providing individualized care with a focus on charitable missions to communities in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico—including CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe—Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in Houston and San Antonio and the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, our mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ to every individual we serve.
 
About Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center
 
Founded in 1949, Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center is an independent, nonprofit, sole community Level III Trauma hospital dedicated to serving South Central New Mexico. Their services include 28 clinics of primary and specialty care; 33 different medical/surgical specialties; service lines to include Urgent Care, Wound Care, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Interventional Radiology and 98 Bed acute care facility. GCRMC employs/contracts with approximately 160 providers and 1,000 staff to provide over 30,000 ER visits, 150,000 clinic visits and 4,000 admissions a year. 
 
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Community Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the Hospital Joining CHRISTUS?

1. Is the hospital going broke?

1. Who is CHRISTUS?

1. Will services change at the hospital or my doctor’s office?

1. Will the hospital become Catholic?

1. Will the hospital name change?

1. Will there be layoffs for the staff?

1. Why Is CHRISTUS interested in GCRMC and Alamogordo?