Hockley County paramedics will soon have a new way to serve residents thanks to a newly acquired Rural Outreach and Wellness vehicle designed to improve community health and reduce unnecessary 911 calls.
In 2025, Texas implemented a $1.4 billion, five-year 'Rural Texas Strong' initiative (2026– 2030) to overhaul rural healthcare through the Rural Health Transformation Program and included grants for hospital technology, AI integration, workforce recruitment and mobile health units for nonemergency care through the Texas Department of Agriculture.
In 2025, Hockley County Judge Sharla Baldridge and the county commissioners approved an agreement to fund a community wellness outreach vehicle. The program is now ready to begin operations.
The new 2025 Ford Explorer will allow paramedics to visit residents who frequently call 911 but may not require emergency transportation.
Hospital administrator and CEO Newman Wheeler said the outreach program focuses on early intervention and connecting patients with resources before emergencies occur.
“This community wellness program is really for our paramedic team to intervene for those folks who frequently call 911 but do not get transported anywhere,” Wheeler said. “It’s kind of like a home health visit, but it’s really more intervention.”
Paramedics will use the vehicle to check on patients who may struggle with medication management, chronic conditions or limited access to healthcare services.
In many cases, repeated emergency calls stem from issues that can be prevented with better support and access to resources.
“Sometimes we just find out that someone’s blood pressure is out of control because they didn’t refill their medicine,” Wheeler said. “Then we realize they did not have the funding to do that. This program helps us identify those problems early.”
The outreach vehicle will allow paramedics to make visits without tying up an ambulance that could be needed for emergencies.
“It is so expensive to tie up an ambulance and a paramedic just to go out on these calls when transporting isn’t really needed,” he said. “We have limited trucks in the country, so this helps us keep ambulances available for true emergencies.”
According to Wheeler, the program also aims to reduce repeat emergency room visits by helping residents establish long-term care Paramedics may assist residents in finding a primary care provider, managing medications or connecting with community services.
“There are resources here that can help with things like utility bills or other needs,” Wheeler said. “We’re hoping this program will get people connected to the right resources.”
Local organizations such as South Plans Community Action also may partner with the program to provide additional assistance.
Hospital leaders say the program is a simple idea that could have a significant impact in the community.
“We’re super excited that Judge Baldridge and the country commissioners helped us get that free vehicle,” he said. “It is amazing.”
Officials believe the outreach program will improve healthcare access while helping emergency services operate more efficiently.
“This is really about helping the people in our community who face social barriers and making sure they get the support they need.” Wheeler said.