Rural New Mexico residents face higher cancer death rates

Residents in rural New Mexico face significant challenges in accessing adequate medical care, particularly life-saving cancer treatments.

According to the American College of Surgeons, cancer death rates are nearly 15% higher in rural areas. The organization said it is working to address this issue.

“When a hospital becomes accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, the quality of care that patients receive there is increased and becomes the same as the quality of care they would have received had they traveled hundreds of miles to an urban or suburban setting,” Ronald Weigel with the American College of Surgeons said.

In New Mexico, only five hospitals are accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. These hospitals are located in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces.