Hospital opposes UNM's proposal for new facility

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The operator of a downtown Albuquerque hospital says the University of New Mexico shouldn't build a new university hospital.

Lovelace Health System says its downtown Lovelace Medical Center can take patients when University Medical Center's own beds are full.

Lovelace says a bed-sharing agreement would make that possible.

A university official tells the Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/12a0YNW ) that there's been no discussions with Lovelace and that the proposed agreement would violate federal rules.

The university is proposing to build a new $146 million hospital but has yet to win approval from the state Board of Finance.

The UNM hospital is the state's only Level 1 trauma center.