Deaf Smith County Hospital District to Launch Multi-Year Chronic Disease Initiative

Rural Texas Strong funding will support the first year of a three-year implementation plan focused on diabetes prevention, nutrition, obesity intervention

Deaf Smith County Hospital District’s plan to strengthen chronic disease prevention and management earned federal and state support with a first round of Rural Health Transformation Program funding, known in Texas as Rural Texas Strong.

The initial funding of $750,000 supports the first year of a three-year implementation plan of a rural diabetes nutrition management program to improve access to diabetic care, reduce preventable hospitalizations, and improve long-term health outcomes. Through the program, County residents will have access to nutrition services, diabetes education, remote patient monitoring, community paramedicine, home visits, and other preventive support and education.

“This investment gives us an opportunity to build on the services we already provide and reach patients earlier, before a chronic condition even develops or leads to an emergency or hospitalization,” said Candice R. Smith, MSN, RHCNOC, CCRN, RACR, chief executive officer of Deaf Smith County Hospital District. “For a rural community, access is about making sure people have the education, follow-up, and support they need to manage their health where they live. That is what we want this program to accomplish.”

Building a More Proactive Model of Rural Care

The initiative focuses primarily on diabetes and obesity, two highly prevalent chronic conditions that can lead to serious complications and greater use of emergency and inpatient care when they are not well managed.

DSCHD’s plan brings several types of care together into one coordinated model, supporting proactive services such as remote monitoring for high-risk patients, expanded diabetes and obesity intervention services, and nutrition counseling.

It further enhances innovations already underway in Deaf Smith County through the hospital’s award-winning community paramedicine program, a home-based follow-up program that ensures patients are on the right track to healthy outcomes following a hospital stay.

A Three-Year Plan for Growth

First-year funding supports the establishment of the infrastructure needed to operate and grow the program, including staff development and monitoring technology.

During years two and three, the focus shifts to serve additional patients, increase community outreach, strengthen support for patients with gestational diabetes, and measure improvements in the program’s ability to manage chronic disease.

Longer-term goals include reducing preventable diabetes-related emergency visits and hospital readmissions and creating a sustainable chronic disease management model that can continue beyond the initial investment.

“This is about building something that lasts,” said Trevor Rohm, M.D., chief medical officer. “This opportunity creates stronger connections among prevention, our clinic, our hospital, and the care we can provide in a patient’s home. When we can help people prevent chronic disease and manage it more effectively, we benefit patients, families, and the health of our entire community.”

“We are extremely grateful for this investment in rural healthcare and for the opportunity to continue expanding services for the people of Deaf Smith County and the surrounding area,” Smith said.

Rural Texas Strong is the state’s implementation of the Rural Health Transformation Program, created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025.