STATE News:

SANTA FE — Santa Fe will soon be getting a new physician-owned, multispecialty practice that will deliver high-quality care to Northern New Mexico.

The Nexus Health practice will have a full range of medical and surgical specialties directed by well-respected doctors who have made a commitment to put patients first in the new independent model of care. Nexus Health is owned and directed by medical providers who practice and live in Santa Fe & Northern New Mexico. 

Nexus Health will start by providing Medical Oncology, Orthopedics, Infusion Services, and Lab operations but will continue to add specialties over the next two years, including: 

• Urology, Gynecology, Primary Care, Hospitalist Medicine, and Radiation Oncology (2023)
• Radiology, Breast Surgery, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Pulmonology, Physical Therapy, Nephrology, Neurosurgery, Gynecologic Oncology, and visiting specialties such as bone marrow transplant and liver transplant (2024)

“We have made a commitment to being physician-led and physician-owned,” Dr. Scott Herbert said, President of Nexus Health. “Too much of today’s healthcare is practiced in high-cost, low-efficiency settings. Our community deserves choice, and it deserves better and more affordable care. We are a group of doctors who care about our patients and our community.”  

Nexus Health is announcing the construction of a new $116 million building, with funding provided by McKesson to construct the 90,000 square foot facility on the south side of Santa Fe, which will house all the specialties in one convenient location. The main campus is scheduled to open in mid 2024. While the Nexus Health network will be entirely physician-owned, McKesson will provide support to maintain the facility with state-of-the-art equipment and systems.

“Our engagement with McKesson, one of the top health care operations in the U.S., will mean that we will have the best facilities, the best systems, and the best opportunities for doctors that health care can provide today,” Dr. Kathryn Chan said, oncologist at Nexus Health. “McKesson is committed to our practice being physician-owned and operated, and that is why we chose to work with them. Our patients will see the benefits.”

New Mexico Cancer Care Associates (NMCCA), which has operated a medical oncology practice in Santa Fe for more than thirty years, will join Nexus Health at the beginning of the year. 

Nexus Oncology opens Jan. 3, 2023, at its new location at 2085 South Pacheco Street in Santa Fe. Current patients of NMCCA will have a seamless transition to the new network and oncology services will be uninterrupted. The oncology practice will operate at the Pacheco Street location until the new building on Santa Fe’s south side is complete. 

Well-known and well-respected NMCCA providers transferring to Nexus Health include Dr. Kathryn Chan, Dr. Fei Gu, Dr. Scott Herbert, Dr. Clifton “Kip” Layman, Dr. Karen LoRusso, Dr. David Snyder, and nurse practitioners Sara White and Ryan Commiskey. 

Nexus Health also includes highly regarded and well-established orthopedic surgeons Dr. John Garcia, Dr. Luke Bulthuis, Dr. Markus E. Garard, and nurse practitioner Margaret Gavin. They have been practicing at the Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center since March 2023.  

Other doctors joining Nexus Health will be announced as their specialties launch.

“As doctors, we were really frustrated with the high physician turnover in the community and the lack of collaboration and team-based care,” Dr. John Garcia said, an orthopedic surgeon at Nexus Health. “We’ve all been living the same frustrating healthcare story for so long that we’ve simply forgotten to ask, ‘Why are things this way?’ But we don’t have to accept the status quo; we can create a lasting health care model for the communities of northern New Mexico. Healthcare can be more convenient. Care can be coordinated rather than disparate and divided, which can also make it more affordable.”

In addition, patients of Nexus Health will be able to go to either hospital in Santa Fe, as Nexus Health physicians will maintain privileges at both hospitals in Santa Fe, a big advantage for patients. 

Costs are another advantage for Nexus Health patients. Nexus will not be tied to any hospital system, so costs will be lower, which could result in lower premiums, lower co-pays, and lower costs overall for the patients. 

“I joined Nexus Health because of their vision, their dedication to patients, and their dedication to the community,” Dr. Kip Layman said.  “I am honored to be a part of something bringing positive change to Santa Fe, and I’m excited to serve northern New Mexico with Nexus Health for years to come.”

For more information on the new network, visit NexusHealth-nm.com.