Governor Greg Abbott dedicated the Dr. Ron A. McMurry MediPlex in Jasper, a new rural healthcare facility serving the region.
The facility includes dermatology, interventional pain management, and pediatric services, along with an air rescue base for Air Evac Lifeteam, known locally as Air Rescue 3. Abbott called the MediPlex "a major investment in rural health care for the region."
The facility was named after Dr. Ron McMurry, a family physician who served Jasper for 40 years. McMurry worked as director of the Jasper-Newton County Public Health District, where he expanded services for low-income Texans and pregnant women, and served as president of the Jasper Hospital District. Abbott described McMurry as an eighth-generation Texan and former U.S. Army combat veteran.
Abbott said: "Ron McMurry devoted his life to making sure that where a Texan lives does not determine the quality of care they receive."
The dedication builds on state efforts for rural health support. In December, Abbott secured $1.4 billion in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, allocating $281 million annually for five years. The state said this was the largest award of any state in the program.