We are thrilled that Cameron is well on the way toward getting two new medical facilities which will establish much-needed “after hours” care for Milam County residents.
Commissioners are working out the details of bringing an urgent care unit to a portion of the former Little River-Cameron Hospital. That’s part of an overall plan to relocate county offices to that hospital complex.
Sometime soon the medical “pod” should arrive to be placed in the Sheriff’s Office, also in Cameron. That’s a 24/7 automated/telemedicine facility which will diagnose and dispense medication.
Both of those will make it easier for Milam residents to receive some form of “after hours” medical assistance, something that’s not available now without going out of county.
Thanks to everyone who is making these much-needed facilities possible.
Having said that, take a look at the name of this newspaper. Yes, it says “Rockdale.” We have been an advocate for our town for 147 years and we are not about to stop now.
When is it our turn?
Rockdale urgently needs after hours care, too. Sure, Cameron is less than a half-hour away but it’s just a few minutes further to full-fledged hospitals with 24/7 emergency care (Baylor Scott & White-Taylor, CHI St. Joseph’s-Caldwell). The void in our community for anytime emer
The void in our community for anytime emergency care that opened in December, 2018, with the closing of Little River-Rockdale, has not been wholly filled, even though we appreciate two local clinics which have opened since.
When the hospital closed there was a lot of concern voiced about Rockdale’s need for emergency care. In fact, the initial inquiries for the telemedicine pod were a result of the effort to secure some kind of additional care for Rockdale.
The pod did not come here, in large part, because the former Rockdale hospital campus was not deemed secure enough for such a facility to be open after hours. That’s understandable.
But all of the understanding in the world won’t amount to much of anything at 3 a.m. some morning when a Rockdale resident suffers a heart attack or is in a bad vehicle crash or has trouble breathing.
Yes, it’s better to have help a half hour away, much better than having to get to Temple or Bryan or Round Rock. Or Taylor or Caldwell
Sure, some Rockdale people will use the urgent care and the pod in Cameron.
But our town needs something too. We think people are working on it. We hope people are working on it.
When is it our turn?—M.B.
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