from larger medical centers,” Haley explains. “But telehealth must be financially viable. Right now, grant funding is what makes it possible.” In clinical settings, the District is also exploring AIsupported documentation tools to improve billing accuracy and reduce administrative burden, while recognizing that adoption must be measured and aligned with operational capacity. RECRUITMENT IN RURAL HEALTHCARE Like many rural systems, HCHD faces ongoing recruitment challenges, particularly licensed providers and therapy professionals. Incentives such as relocation assistance, student loan repayment, and continuing education opportunities are part of the strategy, but leadership agrees that exposure is the key differentiator. Once clinicians experience Canadian and the District’s culture, retention improves dramatically. “The hardest part is getting them here,” Mauldin says. “Once they arrive, they see the community, the relationships, and the quality of work-life balance, and it resonates.” LOOKING AHEAD WITH INTENTION Over the next two years, Hemphill County Hospital District’s priorities are clear: strengthen the workforce pipeline, expand therapy services, continue behavioral health integration, improve recruitment visibility, and pursue grant funding to support new service lines. At the same time, leadership remains committed to fiscal discipline, operational efficiency, and thoughtful growth. Expansion is not about size; it is about sustainability and service. As Haley reflects, “Rural healthcare creates challenges, but it also creates something special. The relationships are deeper. The impact is more personal. And when the people you serve are the same ones you share a community with, every moment of care carries a deeper purpose.” In Hemphill County, healthcare is not just delivered— it is lived, shared, and sustained through trust, 125 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01 HEMPHILL COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT
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