Cuero Regional Hospital announced Oct. 9 that it will close Goliad Family Practice on Nov. 13. The clinic is Goliad County's only family clinic. Residents would need to travel about 30 miles to Cuero or Victoria for care.
Amy Moreland, executive director of the Goliad Senior Citizens Center, said the news surprised the center's clients and left some anxious. She said the change is a big challenge, especially for home-delivery clients who will need transportation to appointments in Cuero, Yorktown or Victoria.
Bonnie Doerr, a senior center board member, said she is trying to get her medical records from the Goliad clinic. She said the clinic could not help her and that a 1-800 number gave her only a recorded message directing her to a website and email address. She said she emailed and had not received a reply.
Hospital officials said the decision was based on a growing shortage of health care professionals in rural communities across the U.S. They said the hospital needs to use its resources for residents in its Cuero hospital district, which Goliad is outside of. Hospital has operated the clinic since buying it in 2015 from a group of local doctors.