Staff reports

Artesia General Hospital (AGH) was granted Initial Provisional Accreditation by the New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) to serve as a provider of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for healthcare professionals. The accreditation is valid from May 9, 2025, through May 7, 2027.

The designation enables AGH to offer locally accredited educational activities for physicians, nurses, technicians, and allied health professionals, further supporting clinical excellence and professional development in southeast New Mexico.

In its decision, NMMS cited several strengths in AGH’s education program, including leadership by a “committed group of educators and physicians,” the involvement of expert presenters, and a strong focus on interdisciplinary training. The committee noted that the hospital’s team-based approach to continuing education is a valuable asset to the region’s healthcare system.

The two-year provisional status allows AGH time to strengthen several program elements, including measuring long-term educational impact, identifying learning gaps, and expanding partnerships with other healthcare institutions.

AGH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Ferraro, who led the application process, emphasized the importance of the accreditation to both providers and patients.

“This accreditation reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of our medical team and improving care across the region,” Ferraro said. “We know that continued education leads to better outcomes, and now we can provide that education right here in our community.”

CME activities help ensure healthcare providers stay current with evolving standards of care, medical technologies, and evidence-based practices. Offering accredited CME locally reduces the burden of travel and provides more accessible opportunities for ongoing training—especially important in rural settings like Artesia and surrounding areas.

AGH plans to build on the initial accreditation by developing a schedule of CME offerings and integrating feedback from both staff and external partners. Upcoming efforts will focus on enhancing evaluation tools, broadening participation across disciplines and expanding the use of data to guide educational planning.