Hereford Recognized Through Texas Panhandle Rural Nurse Education Consortium Feature

The Texas Panhandle Rural Nurse Education Consortium was recently recognized by Texas Health and Human Services as a Rural Star, highlighting the Consortium’s role in helping Panhandle hospitals educate and train nurses closer to home and alleviate the nursing shortage. Hereford Regional Medical Center is proud to be a founding member of the Consortium that has helped strengthen the nursing pipeline across the region. The Consortium was also named the Outstanding Rural Health Program of 2024 by the National Rural Health Association.

Since 2018, Hereford Regional Medical Center and other Panhandle hospital partners have worked alongside Amarillo-area colleges to create more local pathways for students pursuing licensed vocation nurse (LVN) and registered nurse (RN) education.

That model has helped open doors for students who want to build healthcare careers in their own communities while also giving hospitals a stronger, more sustainable workforce.

As Candice R. Smith, MSN, RHCNOC, CCRN, RACR, CEO of Deaf Smith County Hospital District, said in the Texas HHS article, “[The] long-term investment is paying off.” Hereford Regional Medical Center is fully staffed and has eliminated the need for agency, or contract, nurses, and no longer needs to entice out-of-towners. The article also highlights the broader impact of the Consortium, from helping students stay close to home for training to creating long-term growth opportunities for nurses already working in Panhandle hospitals.

Read the full Texas HHS article here.