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Foster HotelFoster Hotel · Photo: MRobison · CC BY-SA 3.0
–Not graded
Health in Chama · CDC PLACES 2025

Where Chama residents get care

CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Chama, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Chama. How CDC estimates town health

Fair or poor health
26.3%
About the same as NM (24%)
Obesity
38.8%
About the same as NM (34.1%)
No exercise
28.8%
About the same as NM (25.6%)
Uninsured
17.5%
About the same as NM (15.6%)
Feel lonely
31.3%
About the same as NM (34.1%)
Nearest ER
37.1 mi
Pagosa Springs Medical Center
What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Chama

37 mito the nearest ER16.8%have diabetes · NM 13.2%2 of 3federal care shortage designations

The nearest ER is 37 miles from Chama

The closest emergency room is Pagosa Springs Medical Center in Pagosa Springs, 37.1 miles away in a straight line. For everyday care, La Clinica Del Pueblo is closer (1.2 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓

Diabetes, heart disease and stroke run high in Chama

1 in 6 adults have diabetes (16.8%), vs 13.2% across New Mexico. 1 in 12 adults have heart disease (8.6%), vs 7.2% across New Mexico. Stroke is also above the state: 4.5%, vs 3.8% across New Mexico. In all, Chama runs above New Mexico on four of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 43% of residents are 65 or older (New Mexico 19%), and diabetes, heart disease and stroke are more common later in life. Conditions ↓

Chama is short on primary care and mental health care

Chama’s county is a federal shortage area for primary care and mental health care, meaning too few providers for the people who live there. Getting care ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New Mexico figure falls outside Chama’s likely range.

★ What stands out · Getting care

Care in and near Chama

1 community health center in Chama, plus the nearest just outside it.

HNearest ERPagosa Springs Medical CenterPagosa Springs · 37.1 miDirections →
+Low-cost careLa Clinica Del PuebloChama · 1.2 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
1.2 mi
La Clinica Del Pueblo
2 sites · nearest in Chama
Sliding-scale feesIn Chama
Directions to nearest
34.1 mi
Valley-Wide Health Systems
2 sites · nearest in Antonito
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
37.1 mi
Pagosa Springs Medical Center
Pagosa Springs · not rated
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
42.8 mi
San Luis Valley Health Conejos County Hospital
La Jara · not rated
Rural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
55.7 mi
San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center
Alamosa · ★★★★★
ER
DirectionsMedicare profile
67.8 mi
Holy Cross Hospital A Div of Taos Health Systems
Taos · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
DirectionsMedicare profile
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Chama itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Chama itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Chama itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Chama; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Chama adults…

Chama runs below NM on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.

17 of every 100 Chama adults have diabetes
New Mexico: 13 in 100 · worse · likely 14.4–19.4%
Better than NMWorseAbout the sameNew Mexico
Why age matters here

Chama is an older town: 43% of residents are 65 or older, vs 19% across New Mexico. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Chama as about how healthy they are.

Residents 65 and older

Chama43%
New Mexico19%
Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico

Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.

Get no exercise 28.8%NM 25.6%
Sleep under 7 hours 33.9%NM 32.7%
Binge drink 11.7%NM 13.7%
Smoke cigarettes 12.1%NM 13.4%
0%10%20%30%40%
Chama, betterChama, worseAbout the sameNew Mexico
Where Chama gets moving

1.8 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Chama adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.

73%Yearly checkupNM 69%
58%Dentist visitNM 61%
87%Cholesterol checkNM 83%
56%Colon screeningNM 58%
73%MammogramNM 70%
78%Taking BP medsNM 73%
1 in 6
working-age adults has no health insurance
Chama 17.5% · New Mexico 1 in 6 (15.6%)
Mind & connection

How Chama adults are doing

On 1 of 4 measures, Chama does better than New Mexico.

1 in 3Chama adults feel lonely
31.3% · NM 34.1% · About the same as NM
1 in 4Chama adults lack social or emotional support
23.9% · NM 24.5% · About the same as NM
1 in 5Chama adults have been diagnosed with depression
19.5% · NM 23.2% · Better than NM
1 in 7Chama adults are in frequent mental distress
14% · NM 16.1% · About the same as NM
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Chama adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 5
Chama adults worry about having enough food
20.2% · NM 20.9%
About the same as NM
1 in 6
Chama adults worry about keeping their housing
15.9% · NM 16.5%
About the same as NM
1 in 9
Chama adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
10.7% · NM 11.2%
About the same as NM
1 in 10
Chama adults lack reliable transportation
9.9% · NM 11%
About the same as NM

15.8% of Chama adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.

Around town

Chama and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

37.5%

of Chama adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs19.3%
Thinking or memory14.5%
Hearing9.9%
Errands alone9.1%
Vision8.2%
Dressing or bathing5.5%
New Mexico

Questions about health in Chama

Why doesn’t Chama have a Health Grade?

Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Chama.

Where can I get low-cost care near Chama?

1 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is LCDP Dunham Clinic in Chama, 1.2 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Chama.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Mexico figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.