Lovelace breaks ground for Bernalillo urgent care clinic

BERNALILLO — Lovelace Medical Group broke ground June 12 for an urgent care clinic along NM 528 in Bernalillo.

The clinic is the first urgent and primary care groundbreaking that Lovelace has done in Bernalillo, according to COO Tracy Miller.

“We are expanding our footprint across the state to provide care where it is most needed,” she said.

Miller also stated the $5.3 million investment will be about 8,100 square feet. It is planned to open in December or by the end of the year.

Lovelace CEO Michael Kueker said they are committed to providing quality health care to the community.

“Lovelace Medical Group’s growth benefits the people we serve by improving the standard of care, improving access to quality health care, and means an additional investment in technology, new jobs and new growth,” he said.

After the speeches, Kueker talked more about the need in that area.

“Every place in New Mexico has a need for primary care. It’s not a mystery. But here, we know the growth of the communities in this part of town. There’s a whole bunch of rooftops if you look down there that don’t have service here now,” he said.

The nearest Lovelace to that area is the Westside location on McMahon. According to a 2024 Sandoval County Community Health Needs Assessment, the county has limited access to behavioral health care and overall health care in general.

“We decided this was the best location we could start with. It’s not the last one we’re going to build, but it’s the first one we’re going to start with,” Kueker said. “We know there’s a whole bunch of unmet need in this part of Sandoval County, Bernalillo, Rio Rancho.”

Lovelace Health System CMO Dr. Vesta Sandoval stated the rural areas of the state are more difficult to provide for “but we are committed to expanding and providing services, making it easier for patients to stay close to home,” she said.

A date has not been set for when the clinic will be completed and open. For more information visit lovelace.com.