The funding will support the replacement of aging medical devices and upgrades to patient health record technology at the Texas facility.
Hereford Regional Medical Center has received the first installment of a $578,000 grant from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to replace medical equipment nearing the end of its service life and upgrade patient health record technology.
The grant is intended to reduce expenditures for repairs and rentals, update aging equipment, and strengthen patient care. The total award will be paid in three installments, contingent on the facility’s compliance with reporting and other state requirements.
“This grant provides valuable resources to help us replace aging medical equipment, such as labor and delivery beds, exam tables, and ER equipment, which are indispensable for modern healthcare delivery,” says Candice Smith, RN, MSN, CEO, Deaf Smith County Hospital District, in a release. “This grant will help ensure uninterrupted patient care and avoid diverting essential operating revenue to maintenance and repair costs.”
Addressing Equipment Lifecycles
Hereford Regional Medical Center is one of 79 hospitals in the state eligible for the 2026-2027 rural health stabilization grant. The funding was created by House Bill 18, the Rural Health Stabilization and Innovation Act, passed during the 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025. These grants provide time-limited funding to support the financial stability of rural hospitals, rural hospital districts, and rural hospital authorities.
“We appreciate the Texas Legislature’s commitment to rural healthcare and communities,” says Kevin Bunch, chair, Deaf Smith County Hospital District board of directors, in a release. “This grant supports Deaf Smith County Hospital District in our work to meet the healthcare needs of everyone in our community and keep care close to home.”
Deaf Smith County Hospital District operates an EMS, outpatient clinic, and inpatient hospital. The facility is designated by the Texas Department of State Health Services as a Level IV trauma center.
