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SUNDAY'S CHILD
Sunday's Child "Christopher" 2/7/10
Just in time for the Winter Olympics, CBS 7’s Tatum Hubbard hit the ice with a very athletic 15-year-old for a little "speed skating."
Just in time for the Winter Olympics, CBS 7’s Tatum Hubbard hit the ice with a very athletic 15-year-old for a little "speed skating."
Joe Heflin Receives TORCH Award 11/18/09
CBS 7 News Big Spring Reporter
November 17, 2009
State Representative Joe Heflin received another award earlier today in Plainview.
He was presented with the Texas Rural Health TORCHbearer Award by the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals.
According to a press release, Heflin was honored for his efforts this past legislative session in support of rural hospitals and improving access to health care for rural Texans.
TORCH is an association of small hospitals across the state which works to help rural Texans receive health care.
What follows is the entire press release:
Austin – Texas State Representative Joe Heflin of Crosbyton was presented today with the Texas Rural Health TORCHbearer Award by the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals. Representative Heflin was recognized for his efforts in the 81st session of the Texas Legislature in support of rural hospitals and working to improve access to health care for rural Texans. The award ceremony was held at Covenant Hospital in Plainview, one of the rural hospitals in the House District #85 which is represented by Heflin.
The Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals, also known as TORCH, represents more than 150 rural hospitals, including those in Heflin’s district. According to TORCH President and CEO David Pearson, “Representative Heflin is one of a few state lawmakers that went well beyond the call of duty to help rural hospitals and pressed for enhanced health care in rural areas.” Heflin is credited with working in several areas including pushing for programs to bring more doctors to rural Texas and trying to shelter rural hospitals from regulations that could add unnecessary costs for patients and local taxpayers.
Pearson added “Joe Heflin is someone who fully understands the importance of protecting our limited resources. He knows that when rural hospitals struggle, the community soon starts to feel the effects. Joe truly gets it and he makes it a personal priority to fight for rural hospitals.” TORCH bestows this special award on only a small group of deserving individuals who have sincerely demonstrated their commitment to improving rural health care.
Many rural hospitals in Texas struggle with limited resources and low patient volumes, but without them thousands of rural Texans would not have accessible health care. Don McBeath, Director of Advocacy for TORCH, said “without enthusiastic support from people like Representative Heflin, some of our rural hospitals could not survive. We truly appreciate his efforts and his willingness to fight for our rural citizens to have access to care.”
Heflin has one of the most rural districts in the Texas Legislature with 16 rural counties covering more than 15,000 square miles and spanning 243 miles north to south and 183 miles east to west. It spreads from Plainview in the panhandle, to west of San Angelo, to north of Abilene. The 85th House district has 12 hospitals, 8 of which have 25 or less beds.
TORCH is a professional association whose members consist of general acute care hospitals of less than 150 beds, as well as the companies and organizations which provide products and services primarily to rural hospitals. The association was founded 19 years ago as the voice and principal advocate for rural and community hospitals in Texas. TORCH provides leadership in addressing the special issues, needs, and contributions of the state’s rural community hospitals. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, TORCH is the only organization devoted exclusively to rural hospitals.
