An anonymous source said she heard the administrator of the New Mexico State Veterans Home was taken away in handcuffs earlier in the week.
Not true.
Sheriff Glenn Hamilton confirmed nothing like that happened. New Mexico Department of Health Public Information Officer David Morgan also confirmed it didn’t happen.
Tracking down and dispelling rumors, fact checking and correcting fake news as quickly as possible, according to some studies, keeps them from latching on and contributing to an unhealthy-community zeitgeist.
Thanks to Hamilton, Morgan and others for putting in the time to slay the rumor. Hopefully the good word will spread.
One thing revealed during the hunt—since Juliet Sullivan was removed as administrator, serving a year and a half, from Jan. 15, 2020 to July 14, 2021, that position has been in flux.
Sullivan was removed after a lengthy investigation, which found numerous coronavirus protocols had not been followed: https://sierracountysun.org/health/report-torc-vets-home-violated-virus-safety-rules/.
According to a Santa Fe New Mexican article, Sullivan was placed on administrative leave and “George Morgan, the director of the state Office of Facilities Management, served as the home’s interim director until November, when Angela York was appointed head.” https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-state-veterans-home-could-get-some-help/article_7ee228ea-98b9-11ec-9ec6-8f9bc5cfe3ea.html
According to NMDOH Public Information Officer Morgan, York was hired as an administrator on Nov. 27, 2021, but was gone less than eight months later, on July 22, 2022.
“That is the extent of information you asked for that I can provide,” Morgan wrote. “State employee records are protected by law, according to state statute 1.7.1 (12) (c).”
“Mary Snyder currently serves as Acting Administrator of the NMSVH,” Morgan wrote. “She is employed as Deputy Administrator. She was hired on 5/29/21. She began serving as Acting Administrator on 7/23/22.”
Asked about the infection rate, Morgan said, “There are no COVID cases in NMSVH residents, nor have there been since June.”
Thank you for your good reporting. I would like to see more reporting on Covid and the Vets home, and Covid in the community. I think it’s important to realize that Covid care has become a political issue when it shouldn’t be. The care you get depends largely on what state you live in. Other states, like NH and Tn, have recently passed legislation protecting doctors who are prescribing generic, early treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Other states have passed legislation making it easier for patients to get these treatments. I have spoken to providers in NM who are having complaints made to the state med board when they px these drugs. Chain pharmacies like Walgreens and Wal-mart pharmacies will refuse to fill the prescriptions licensed doctors are writing. All of this translates into bad outcomes for those who contract covid. Any assumption that we’re out of the woods in this pandemic is foolhardy. After we lost so many in the vets home during the winter of 20-21 i think it’s abhorrent there is no leadership there and no plan, and even if there were, because of the policies of this state the doctors would have a tough time getting scripts filled, because of the for some silly reason politicians think they are smarter than doctors.