Gila Regional Medical Center will launch a new campaign this month aimed at achieving five-star patient ratings, which are critical to patient satisfaction, reputation and overall quality performance. The campaign will focus on the patient’s perception of the hospital from arrival through discharge and was developed by a 14-member team with emphasis on phone etiquette, customer service, patient safety and professionalism. The campaign is designed to elevate the experience to a consistent five-star level and embed excellent customer service into the hospital’s culture.
Congratulations to Owen Washburn of Lordsburg, honored as the “Captain Consistency” Class of 2026 inductee into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame. Owen was a 10-time qualifier for the PBR World Finals and captured the title of 1996 PBR World Champion Bull Rider. In 2003, he achieved a historic milestone by successfully riding the previously unridden Hammer of Tony Sharp on back-to-back nights-at the time, a PBR record for the highest earnings at a single event. Owen will be formally inducted during the 12th Annual Induction Ceremonies and Reunion on May 16.
Students from the Deming High School MESA Team have developed an innovative device designed to help protect the community during hazardous weather and environmental emergencies. The project, called the Dust Sentinel Rover, is equipped with sensors that measure temperature, humidity, light levels, air quality and physical obstacles, as well as a GPS module that tracks its location. The rover can be deployed during floods, wildfires and windstorms to collect environmental data, assess risks and support emergency response efforts. It also has the potential to aid post-disaster recovery by transmitting data and providing surveillance in affected areas.
In New Mexico news:
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is accepting online grant applications for its Healthy Soil Program from Friday, Jan. 16, through March 20. Eligible entities include the state’s tribal governments, acequias, land grants, soil and water conservation districts, and other local governmental entities with demonstrated land management capacity to support healthy soil. Applications may include individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations actively engaged in farming, ranching, or other forms of land management. Projects funded during this cycle may begin as early as July 15 and may continue through as late as Sept. 30, 2027. Additional information is available on the website.
