First Choice Community Healthcare – South Valley: Services

First Choice South Valley Hours & Contact

The current First Choice website publishes the following schedule for both medical and dental care at South Valley.

Check official South Valley clinic hours and contacts.

Healthcare Services at South Valley

Service availability: the organization lists these categories for South Valley, but not every specialist or service is available every day. Ask whether the requested treatment is performed at this particular clinic.

How to Make a Medical or Dental Appointment

1. Choose the department. For medical or behavioral health, call 505-873-7400. For dental, call 505-873-7423.
2. Explain your patient status. Tell staff whether you are new to First Choice or an established patient.
3. Describe the visit. Request primary care, pediatrics, dentistry, counseling, women’s health or another service.
4. Confirm the location. Ask specifically for South Valley at 2001 Centro Familiar SW.
5. Discuss insurance. Provide your plan information or request sliding-fee assistance if uninsured.
6. Check preparation requirements. Ask about identification, records, prescriptions, referrals, fasting or other instructions.
7. Record the appointment. Confirm date, time, provider, department and arrival instructions.

Same-Day Medical Visits & After-Hours Care

First Choice reserves some same-day or next-day medical appointments for patients already established with the clinic.

For a Nonemergency Illness

1. Call the clinic when same-day scheduling begins at 7 AM.
2. Explain your symptoms and request an available appointment.
3. If no slot is open, ask whether a nurse can review your concern and recommend the appropriate next step.
4. Follow the assigned appointment time or referral instructions.

After hours: Call 505-873-7400. The answering service can connect patients with an on-call medical or dental provider, including weekends and holidays.

South Valley Dental Center: Booking & Preparation

The dental clinic operates at the same South Valley health center but has its own number and appointment process.

Before a Dental Appointment

1. Call the dental department directly.
2. Explain whether you need an examination, cleaning, treatment or assessment of a dental problem.
3. Ask whether the provider can perform the specific procedure you need.
4. Confirm insurance participation or sliding-fee eligibility.
5. Bring relevant dental records or X-rays if requested.
6. Ask about treatment costs and additional appointments.

First Choice provides a secure way to upload dental images when the dental team requests them. Find the official upload instructions under Plan Your Visit & Documents.

Sliding-Fee Discounts, Medicaid & Uninsured Care

First Choice is a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Its Sliding Fee Discount Program can reduce medical, dental and behavioral-health charges based on household size and gross income.

Proof of Income: Accepted Examples

• Previous year’s federal income tax return.
• Two to four recent pay stubs.
• Unemployment, disability, pension or retirement benefit documentation.
• Child support, alimony or supplemental income records.
• A signed employer letter verifying gross wages.
• A notarized letter explaining third-party financial support, where applicable.

First Choice requests gross income information for all applicable household members. Other qualifying income sources may also need to be documented.

How to Apply for Reduced Fees

1. Ask registration staff for the Sliding Fee Discount Program.
2. Identify everyone included in the household and the applicable household income.
3. Gather the requested income documentation.
4. Submit the application using the health center’s approved process.
5. Ask which medical or dental discount level applies.
6. Request an estimate for the visit and additional procedures.
7. Reapply when the one-year approval period expires.

Medical Insurance Enrollment Assistance

First Choice has enrollment specialists who can assist patients with healthcare coverage questions, including New Mexico Medicaid applications, renewals and health insurance marketplace options.

Getting Help With Coverage

1. Call 505-873-7400 and request an enrollment specialist.
2. Explain whether you need new coverage, Medicaid renewal or help understanding an insurance notice.
3. Ask which identity, household, income and coverage documents are needed.
4. Complete the application through the appropriate state or marketplace system.
5. Confirm the plan’s effective date and whether First Choice participates in the specific insurance network.

For marketplace coverage, BeWell, New Mexico’s official health insurance marketplace, provides current plan and enrollment information.

New Patient Forms & What to Bring

First Choice provides separate new-patient and returning-patient registration forms through its patient resources page.

Download Patient Paperwork

1. Open First Choice’s official patient document page.
2. Select New Patient Registration or Returning Patient Registration.
3. Complete the appropriate form accurately.
4. Ask staff which documents can be submitted securely before the visit.
5. Bring the completed paperwork and any additional requested documents.

First Choice recommends bringing medication containers, not only trying to remember medication names and dosages.

Patient Portal, Refills & Medical Records

The First Choice Medical & Behavioral Health Patient Portal allows eligible registered patients to complete tasks without visiting the clinic for every request.

• View medical records and visit summaries.
• Review upcoming appointments.
• Request appointments.
• Communicate with the care team.
• Request prescription renewals.
• Pay eligible medical or behavioral-health bills online.

How to Access the Portal

1. Open the official First Choice Patient Portal page.
2. Select the new-account option or existing-patient login.
3. For a new account, prepare your full name, date of birth and medical record number.
4. Follow the identity-verification instructions.
5. Use the secure portal for available medical and appointment tasks.

Dental portal: First Choice states that a dental patient portal is coming soon. Do not assume dental records, appointments or dental bill payments work through the medical portal.

How to Request Medical Records

1. Download the English or Spanish medical-record release form from the patient resources page.
2. Identify the information requested and the authorized recipient.
3. Complete the required authorization.
4. Return the form in person to the health center where you received care.
5. Ask about any applicable copying charges and fulfillment timeframe.

Other First Choice Clinics Near Albuquerque

If South Valley cannot provide the desired appointment, First Choice operates additional clinics. Services and schedules vary by site.

Dental services are listed at South Valley, Edgewood and Los Lunas. Confirm appointment availability and accepted insurance at the specific location.

South Valley Medical Center Address & Directions

Parking & Accessible Visits

• Confirm the medical or dental entrance when your appointment is scheduled.
• Ask clinic staff about accessible parking and the best drop-off location if needed.
• Request a language interpreter when scheduling. First Choice supports Spanish and other languages through interpretation arrangements.
• For hearing or speech assistance, First Choice lists telecommunications relay service at 800-659-8331.
• Allow time for first-visit registration and insurance verification.

A specific parking-space count or guaranteed free-parking policy was not established from the clinic’s current official listing. Confirm special arrangements before visiting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using old opening hours: current official medical and dental hours are 7 AM–5 PM weekdays.
2. Arriving without an appointment: First Choice is not a general walk-in center.
3. Calling medical for dental scheduling: use the South Valley dental number, 505-873-7423.
4. Assuming all care is free: sliding-fee eligibility reduces charges but does not guarantee a zero-cost visit.
5. Expecting every service at every clinic: provider and department availability differ.
6. Sending private records through public channels: use the official portal or approved authorization process.
7. Confusing administration with medical care: the organization also has administrative offices at the Centro Familiar address; confirm the correct department.

Related Community Healthcare Guides

For another Southwest community-health provider offering medical, dental and behavioral care, our Community Health Alliance Wells Avenue guide in Reno explains department-specific hours and income-based assistance.

Patients comparing how nonprofit healthcare networks manage enrollment and affordability can consult the Partnership Community Health Center appointment and sliding-fee guide for Wisconsin.

For a separate community clinic network providing medical and dental care in California, read the Aria Community Health Center services guide.

Our Will County Community Health Center patient guide also explains the differences between primary care, same-day visits and specialty departments at an Illinois public health center.

Official Patient Resources

South Valley Health Center — official address, phone, medical and dental hours, and providers.

Appointment Scheduling — new patient, same-day and after-hours instructions.

First Choice Healthcare Services — primary care, dental, behavioral health and other services.

Sliding Fee Discount Program — income documentation and discount requirements.

Financial Aid & Insurance Coverage — Medicaid, Medicare, marketplace options and payment plans.

Patient Registration & Medical Record Forms — new-patient documents and records authorization.

Patient Portal — appointments, records, prescription renewals and payments.

All First Choice Locations — other New Mexico clinics and contact details.

Independent informational guide, reviewed October 29, 2026. First Choice Community Healthcare controls appointments, treatment decisions, accepted insurance and final patient charges. This website is not affiliated with First Choice and does not provide medical services.