FARMINGTON – San Juan Regional Medical Center has opened a new clinic in Farmington specifically for patients who might not have a primary care provider.

San Juan Health Partners Family Medicine Farmington offers appointments to those who either came out of the hospital, emergency room or urgent care and who don’t have a primary care provider set up.

Laura Werbner, a spokeswoman for the medical center, said there is a “great need” for the clinic.

“We know that 30 to 40% of discharged patients from the inpatient or Emergency Department setting don’t have a primary care provider,” Werbner said in a news release. “Our goal is to meet the health disparities we see among our most vulnerable patients and avoid readmissions.”

President and CEO of San Juan Regional Medical Center Jeff Bourgeois said COVID-19 highlighted a “disproportionate impact” on Native American populations.

“As a community owned and operated hospital, San Juan Regional Medical Center is committed to being a catalyst in addressing health disparities and being part of solutions to make positive impacts on social determinants of health,” Bourgeois said.

There will be one family medicine physician and two family nurse practitioners at the clinic.

For more information, visit www.sanjuanregional.com/family-medicine-farmington or call (505) 609-2990.

mmitchell@durangoherald.com