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Judge's committee to find long-term ER residency program solution is made permanent

The committee will continue to work on a solution to ER residency program.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Nueces County Judge's Committee was formed to try and save the Emergency Medicine Residency Program currently housed in the CHRISTUS Health System, but now, Nueces County Judge Connie Scott wants it to become a permanent fixture at the courthouse. 

The group, which features two county commissioners and local health care community members, helped in securing a 6-year deal to extend the program, and will now continue meeting until a permanent deal is in place.

"Now, we are focused on continuing the effort until the end of time, if that what it takes, because it's that serious," said Pct. 4 commissioner Brent Chesney.

The ER residency program's director and asst. director are part of this group, as well as Chesney and Pct. 2 commissioner John Marez. 

Marez said that Spohn agreeing to continue the ER program for six more years is a good sign, but he's not sure that Spohn won't try and pull the plug on the program again.

"That's why we're going to stay in existence, is to be able to plan and be able to respond in real-time, rather than take time like we did," he said.

Nueces County Hospital District board member Art Granado also is on the committee and said all possible funding sources will be looked at to find a permanent solution -- and that includes HCA Healthcare and local foundations.

"That's what we have to figure out: 1, Is there a way the hospital district can take it over?" he said. "Is there a way another hospital can come in and take it? So, those are the things we're trying to figure out."

Granado said that, at the end of the day, the county can't stand by and watch the ER residency program and its doctors leave this community. 

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