A new walk-in, urgent- and primary-care clinic has opened in Rio Rancho — though a little sooner than planned.

Local nurse practitioner Laura McClesky told Albuquerque's KRQE Channel 13 that she planned to open her own clinic years down the road, but the pandemic caused her to open the facility sooner than expected.

Laura's Primary & Rapid Care Clinic treats all types of patients and is certified by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. McClesky spent 10 years as a nurse for Lovelace Medical Center and four years as a nurse practitioner before the pandemic pushed her into realizing her longtime dream of opening her own clinic.

“You’ve got to totally dictate your care based on policies and procedures,” McClesky told KRQE about working with bigger providers. “I want it to be like old-fashioned medicine where you can actually take care of the patient the way you want to. I’m not in this to make a ton of money; I am in this to actually take care of the patient.”

Laura's, which is operated by McClesky, her son and her daughter, accepts multiple insurance providers and self-pay options from patients. Patients can sign up for an appointment online, or by calling 505-962-8503.