A new clinic catering to the safety and health of employees of three of the largest oil and gas operators in Carlsbad, New Mexico, opened recently.
The clinic, operated by XStremeMD, was created via a partnership between ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil, and XTO Energy.
Joseph Pearson, chief executive officer of XStremeMD, said the company got its start in 2006 providing healthcare for employees working on off-shore rigs in Louisiana.
The Lafayette, Louisiana-based company has four locations in the Permian Basin: Orla, Midland, and Big Lake, Texas, with Carlsbad as the newest location.
"This is our fourth clinic here in the Permian," Pearson said. "The way we decide (on locations) is to do a risk assessment based on what the operators are saying the needs are in areas they serve."
The clinic will treat workers in an effort to provide access to quality healthcare, while unburdening local providers and facilities as the companies' workforce grows in the area.
Treating All Illness
Pearson said XStremeMD medical personnel treat everything from minor injuries to critical health issues and can fulfill specialized industry safety needs.
A portion of the clinic is dedicated to accurately fitting breathing apparatus for workers.
Another area is set aside for assessing hearing in employees.
The clinic also boasts a treatment room where Carlsbad-based nurses and doctors can teleconference with other medical professionals.
The clinic is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Pearson said access and response time is critical when treating those who labor in the far-flung and remote environments of southeast New Mexico's oil fields.
"We look at response times and current municipality response times and make an evaluation where we could make the most impact," Pearson said.
In 2017, Pearson said the average response time in the area was around 52 minutes. For someone experiencing a cardiac event, providing treatment within the first hour significantly increases the likelihood of survival.