Update: Oct. 13, 2022 – According to a press release from Covenant Health Hobbs, the environmental issues discussed in this article have now been resolved. As such, regular service has been resumed as of Thursday, October 13.

“We have determined with the mitigation efforts, we can resume providing a healthy and safe environment for our patients, visitors, and caregivers,” states the release.

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The new Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital is “reducing services” to deal with safety and environmental issues. This means that patients are being sent to other facilities for care.

Covenant Health Hobbs released a statement on Friday afternoon, October 7, stating that the facility “…is undergoing a voluntary review and mitigation efforts for two environmental issues identified by the hospital to ensure continued safety and high-quality care.” The two areas of concern are water quality and potential unsealed points of entry.

Water Quality

According to the statement, low levels of chlorine were found in the hospital’s water supply during a routine inspection. “Adequate levels of chlorine are necessary to ensure water is safe for consumption and use in a hospital….” The bottom line is that chlorine helps “…to remove harmful bacteria and other contaminants that can affect surface areas and equipment.”

The hospital is working with a water management company to “identify the cause” and “develop a mitigating plan in line with regulatory standards,” Covenant Health Hobbs states. No specific timeline for instituting the new “plan” has been announced.

Potential Unsealed Points of Entry 

According to Covenant’s statement, the hospital was built on undeveloped land. Animals were displaced from their habitat and forced to seek new locations for “warmth, shelter and food”.

According to the statement, reports of rodents in and around the facility have been made. “Our facilities team is searching for points of entry and diligently working to identify and remove any sign of rodents from the premises.” Again, Covenant Health Hobbs provides no specific timeline for this process.

The hospital assures the public that it is taking the immediate action of reducing services “acting out of an abundance of caution” for the safety of patients, visitors and caregivers. “The safety of those in our hospital is our priority,” states Covenant Health.

To this end Covenant Health Hobbs estimates that the facility will operate with “reduced services” for several days.

Emergency Department Open

Emergency Department services continue to operate without interruption, although after evaluation and initial treatment, patients still needing care will be transferred to nearby hospitals.

Covenant Health Hobbs is directing non-emergency patients to go to Covenant Medical Group’s Walk-In Clinic. The clinic is located at 5320 North Lovington Highway in Hobbs. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Labor & Delivery Services

The new Covenant Health Hobbs facility includes a large wing for labor and delivery services. Currently, patients who are going into labor should still plan on arriving at the new facility and may be diverted to other hospitals depending on their labor progress. According to an employee from the Labor & Delivery department, patients waiting to give birth will be triaged on-site and will give birth at the new facility if their contractions are 3 minutes or less apart. However, if delivery is not imminent, diversion is likely or the patient may be sent home to return later.

Hobbs Fire Department 

The Hobbs Fire Department (HFD) is taking the current situation at Covenant Health Hobbs very seriously. A Friday, October 7, press release, issued by HFD Chief Barry Young, states, “It is imperative for our community of Hobbs to understand, our department will continue to respond to 911 calls and transport patients to the appropriate facility, which will include Covenant Health Hobbs Emergency Department. We do ask, if you feel you have an emergency, please call 911; however, if it is not an emergency, please call either your primary care physician…” or alternatively go to the emergency department at one of the three following locations:

• Nor-Lea Hospital District, 1600 North Main Street, Lovington, New Mexico

• Yoakum County Hospital, 412 Mustang Avenue, Denver City, Texas

• Seminole Hospital District, 209 Northwest 8th Street, Seminole, Texas

HFD is adding personnel during Covenant Health’s reduced services period. “Rest assured, our department will respond with the appropriate personnel, and patients will be evaluated and treated to the level we are capable of,” states Chief Young in the press release.

Both Covenant Health Hobbs and the Hobbs Fire Department appreciate the understanding and patience of all stakeholders at this difficult and unprecedented time. No estimated end date for reduced services has been determined.