Lincoln County Medical CenterRuidoso, NM
Lincoln County Medical Center is a non-profit critical access hospital in Ruidoso, New Mexico, with an emergency department. As of the July 2026 CMS release, patients treated and sent home spend a median of 2 hr 26 min in its emergency department, 23 min shorter than the New Mexico average of 2 hr 49 min. Medicare rates it 2 out of 5 stars overall, and patients give it 4 out of 5 in the Medicare patient survey.
(575) 257-8200 Visit Website- Time ZoneMST
- CountyLincoln
- Emergency CapableYes
- FIPS35027
- Area Code575
Visiting Lincoln County Medical Center
- Photo ID and your insurance, Medicare or Medicaid card
- A list of your medicines, doses and allergies
- Your doctor's name and phone number
- A phone charger
Quality and performance
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · data as of July 2026
Patients spend an average of 2 hours 26 minutes in the emergency department at Lincoln County Medical Center. That is 23 minutes shorter than the New Mexico average of 2 hours 49 minutes.
Source: CMS Hospital General Information and Timely & Effective Care. Wait times are a median over a past 12-month reporting period, not live data. Not affiliated with CMS or with Lincoln County Medical Center. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Compare ER waits across New Mexico · How New Mexico hospitals rank on star ratings · Other Critical Access hospitals in New Mexico · How we source this data · Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What patients say
CMS patient survey (HCAHPS) · 186 completed surveys · patients discharged Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Patients gave Lincoln County Medical Center a 4-star patient experience rating out of 5. 79% would definitely recommend it (U.S. average 71%). 77% rated it 9 or 10 out of 10.
The patient survey (HCAHPS) asks a random sample of adult patients about their recent hospital stay. CMS adjusts the results for the mix of patients and how the survey was done, so hospitals can be compared fairly. About the data.
Infections, complications and deaths
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · compared with hospitals nationwide
Lincoln County Medical Center was no different from the national benchmark on the one hospital-acquired infection CMS could compare.
Hospital-acquired infections
Death rates within 30 days
| Patients treated for | This hospital | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Heart failure patients | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| Pneumonia patients | 17.3% | 15.2% |
| COPD patients | 7.9% | 8.6% |
| Hospital-wide, all conditions | 3.9% | 3.9% |
Risk-adjusted rates. CMS has not published a statistical better/worse comparison for these death rates in the current release, so small differences from the U.S. rate may be chance.
"Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national benchmark statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Infection results compare the infections a hospital reported with the number predicted for a hospital of its size and type (a ratio below 1 means fewer than predicted), for Oct 2024 – Sep 2025. Death and complication rates are risk-adjusted for how sick patients were. Each death rate counts deaths within 30 days of a hospital stay, pooled over one to three years of Medicare patients depending on the measure. About the data.
Readmissions and return visits
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Medicare patients · Jul 2023 – Jun 2025
Back in the hospital within 30 days
| After a stay for | This hospital | U.S. | CMS comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart failure | 21.7% | 21.3% | Not compared |
| Pneumonia | 16.5% | 17.3% | Not compared |
| COPD (chronic lung disease) | 18.4% | 20% | Not compared |
Return trips after a stay or procedure
Readmission rates count Medicare patients who were admitted to any acute-care hospital within 30 days of leaving this one, adjusted for how sick they were. "Better" or "worse" means CMS found the difference from the national rate statistically significant; most hospitals are "no different". Return-day and outpatient-surgery measures compare the hospital with what CMS expected for its own patients. The Readmissions Reduction Program ratios are shown as CMS publishes them; whether a hospital's payments are reduced depends on how its ratios compare with similar hospitals, so a ratio above 1.00 alone doesn't mean a penalty. About the data.
Timely and effective care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · all patients unless noted · Oct 2024 – Sep 2025
Lincoln County Medical Center's emergency department is classed by CMS as low volume.
| Measure | This hospital | U.S.* |
|---|---|---|
| Typical time in the ER before going homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving, for ER patients sent home (not counting mental health patients or transfers). Lower is better. 425 patients. | 146 min | 162 min |
| Typical ER time for mental health patients sent homeMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 29 patients. | 269 min | 257 min |
| Typical ER time for patients transferred to another facilityMedian minutes from arrival to leaving. Lower is better. 14 patients. | 361 min | 287 min |
| Patients who left the ER before being seenLower is better. 17,423 patients. | 2% | 2% |
| Health care workers vaccinated against fluHigher is better. 424 patients. | 57% | 78% |
| Discharged on two opioids, or an opioid and a benzodiazepinePatients sent home with prescriptions that raise the risk of overdose when combined. Lower is better. 187 patients. | 10% | 15% |
| Colonoscopy: right follow-up interval for average-risk patientsHigher is better. 98 patients. | 80% | 93% |
| Blood clot prevention given in intensive careHigher is better. 226 patients. | 93% | 97%* |
CMS publishes these process-of-care measures without a better/worse verdict, so the U.S. figure is shown for context; small differences, or results based on few patients, may not mean much. *Median of all hospitals CMS reports, where CMS publishes no national figure. About the data.
Maternity care
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · reported by the hospital · Jan 2024 – Dec 2024
Maternity measures are reported by hospitals that deliver babies. The U.S. figure is the median of the hospitals CMS reports, not a CMS verdict. About the data.
Doctors at Lincoln County Medical Center
93 Medicare-enrolled doctors and other clinicians list this hospital as an affiliation, across 19 specialties.
Size and finances
Medicare cost report · fiscal year ending Dec 2024
As reported by the hospital to CMS; not audited. Operating margin is income from patient care divided by net patient revenue and leaves out investment income and donations. Compare New Mexico hospital finances.
Who owns Lincoln County Medical Center
Medicare enrollment and ownership records (PECOS)
Medicare lists the hospital's legal name as Presbyterian Healthcare Services, a non-profit organization.
184 doctors and other clinicians list Lincoln County Medical Center as a hospital affiliation in Medicare's clinician directory.
Organizations with 5% or more ownership (directly or through other companies), partnership interests or operational control, as the hospital reported them to Medicare. Records can lag behind recent sales. Individuals are not listed. Who owns America's hospitals.
Non-profit finances
IRS Form 990 · tax year ending Dec 2023 · Presbyterian Healthcare Services (EIN 85-0105601)
As filed with the IRS by Presbyterian Healthcare Services, which also files for 6 other hospitals listed here, so the figures cover more than this hospital. Matched by name and address, so check the filing to confirm it's the right organization. See the full Form 990 filings · Non-profit hospital finances.
The area around Lincoln County Medical Center
HRSA shortage designations and BLS pay data
Primary care: Lincoln is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 14.
Mental health: Lincoln is a federally designated health professional shortage area. Highest shortage score 13.
Dental: Parts of Lincoln are federally designated health professional shortage areas (1 designation). Highest shortage score 17.
Nurse pay: registered nurses in New Mexico earn a median $94,340 a year. Healthcare salaries in New Mexico.
Shortage areas are designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration where there are too few primary care, mental health or dental providers for the population; scores run from 0 to 25 for primary and mental health care and 0 to 26 for dental care, higher meaning greater need. New Mexico shortage areas
Find doctors in Ruidoso
Medicare-enrolled specialists with a practice in Ruidoso, with addresses, phone numbers and the hospitals they work with.
Care after a stay at Lincoln County Medical Center
Medicare-certified providers near this hospital, with their CMS ratings. A hospital discharge planner can make the referral.
Home health agencies nearby See more
- 3.1mi Enhabit Home HealthRuidoso, NM · 85% would recommend
Hospice care providers nearby See more
- 3.1mi Enhabit HospiceRuidoso, NM · 81% would recommend Not rated
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Add this rating badge to your website
The badge updates automatically when CMS publishes new ratings. About badges.