Health care has been and still is a big issue for counties, and it is becoming an even bigger issue now. There are many counties in Texas that have little or no medical care services. Some do not even have one clinic, and there are still others that do not have a local hospital. In light of these facts, emergency medical services (EMS) is a very important issue.
When I became County Judge, our county was facing many medical challenges that are very common to rural areas, such as long response time due to distance and limited resources. The county had no hospital and only one clinic, which had a physician assistant or two. The EMS services were all run by volunteers who had aging equipment. They were ready for a change, so this issue became a top priority of mine.
As we navigated these challenges, collaboration with our volunteer fire departments, volunteer EMS, and local law enforcement was essential in trying to implement a change. In our county, there was total cooperation among these entities, and we all worked together to achieve our health care goal. Over time, we voted in favor of four ESDs (Emergency Services Districts) to serve the entire county with funding and support for emergency services.
We now have four to five ambulances running each day throughout the county with a population of approximately 17,000 people.
We have four clinics and have gone from no doctors to having two in the county. We are also served by three helicopter services, one of which is stationed with a crew 24/7 in our county. These partnerships have greatly enhanced the capacity to respond quickly to emergencies, ensuring that our residents receive timely care and treatment.
As you probably already know, the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT) has identified the lack of funding for rural EMS as a significant health risk for Texans. In fact, late last year, the CJCAT and the Texas Association of Counties conducted a survey with the purpose of gathering information to tell the county story on rural EMS issues to the Texas Legislature.
We have come a long way, but we still work every day to obtain better medical services. It is an ongoing process.
Health care, EMS, and ESDs are integral components of health care provision in our county, playing a significant role in the well-being and safety of our residents.
While challenges exist due to the rural nature of many areas, ongoing community efforts and collaboration among various service providers help ensure that the health and safety needs of our counties are met effectively. Continued support and investment in these essential services will be crucial for future growth in all of our communities.
The CJCAT has passed a resolution calling for more funding for emergency medical services, available here: https://bit.ly/CJCATResolutions