About First Step Center

The First Step Center is an independent, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization in Las Cruces, NM. The First Step Center is dedicated to providing caring, affordable, quality pediatric and women's health care to residents of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, and Southern New Mexico.

First Step Center is comprised of two clinical branches, pediatrics and women's health. First Step Women's Health sees over 17,000 patient clinic visits per year. Nearly 36% of the patients have no payor source, while 52% are on Medicaid and 1% on Medicare. Less than 10% of these women have commercial insurance. First Step Pediatrics sees an additional 22,000 patient clinic visits per year. While 26% of the children in our pediatric program have commercial insurance, 70% are on Medicaid, and 4% have no payor source. Given this patient population and payor mix, the First Step Center depends heavily on subsidies and grant funding to meet its operational expenses.

It is worth noting the history of the First Step Center, and the role we play in the delivery of pediatric and women's healthcare in our community and Southern New Mexico. The program was begun in 1989 at Memorial Medical Center in response to an ongoing crisis in New Mexico regarding access to prenatal care. At that time, 48% of the women who presented to the emergency room in labor had no prenatal care. The First Step Center was started with one physician, Sister Myrtle Keller, who arrived in the community with more than 17 years of medical missionary experience in Africa. Dr. Keller identified healthcare for women in Las Cruces as 'third world care.' Two years later, the First Step Center added their pediatric component. Since 1989, the staff has increased to four obstetrician/gynecologists, six certified midwives, and four pediatricians, in addition to a staff of 45 employees. On an annual basis, First Step Center providers see more than 49,000 patients in clinic or at Memorial Medical Center. In 2009, 751 babies were delivered by First Step Center midwives and obstetricians, which represents almost half of all babies born in Doña Ana County.

First Step Center is committed to improving healthcare for women and children in our community.