Lack of West Side Hospital Explored.(Metropolitan)

Byline: Jeremy Pawloski Journal Staff Writer

Officials from Albuquerque's four major hospitals had bad news for West Siders during a public forum Tuesday night to discuss why the region lacks a full-service hospital.

Across the country, the health-care industry has problems turning a profit, they said. And in New Mexico, that problem is compounded by a lack of doctors, a large number of residents without health insurance and lower Medicare reimbursements than other states.

"The health-care industry is in a crisis in this country," James H. Hinton, president and chief executive officer of Presbyterian Health Care Services, said during the forum. "The average hospital in America is not making money. …