2024 is a monumental birthday for Lovelace Westside Hospital, marking 40 years of serving Rio Rancho and Westside residents of Albuquerque with high-quality, convenient care.
What began as a small, community hospital has grown into an exceptional team who have contributed to Lovelace Westside Hospital’s achievements. Their outstanding work and commitment to caring for the community impacts patients’ lives every day.
Hospital’s historical roots
Known first as St. Joseph West Mesa Hospital, the hospital was built on land originally donated to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati who built St. Joseph’s Sanatorium, the first hospital in Albuquerque.
The original 128-bed facility opened on July 30, 1984, to serve Albuquerque’s Westside, already the fastest-growing section of the metropolitan area. More than 6,000 community members and staff participated in the hospital’s open house and dedication.
In the early 2000s, Ardent Health acquired both St. Joseph Health Care and the Lovelace facilities to create Lovelace Health System. St. Joseph West Mesa Hospital was then renamed Lovelace Westside Hospital.
Recognition for excellent care
Lovelace Westside Hospital has been recognized nationally for excellent patient care including:
- Recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) for its commitment to guideline adherence and quality improvement for stroke patients, earning the AHA’s Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll for 2021 - 2023.
Money and the Leapfrog Group named Lovelace Westside Hospital to their list for 2022 Best Hospitals and Surgery Centers for Billing Ethics, showing our dedication to delivering the highest quality of care for patients, while ensuring adherence to the maximum ethical standards for billing.- Accreditation under the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP), a joint quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), demonstrating our commitment to ensuring the safe and effective performance of metabolic and bariatric surgery.
Lovelace Westside Hospital remains committed to the health and wellness of its community’s growing needs.