By TESS FICCAGLIA
Special to the PRESS
The Laguna Vista UTRGV Clinic is closing effective December 1, 2023, according to clinic officials.
Close to 80 residents attended a Laguna Vista Community Forum on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, to voice opinions, receive answers, and discuss alternative healthcare for the residents of Laguna Vista.
Now, the main concern of many is finding adequate healthcare professionals with whom patients feel comfortable and are located within a reasonable driving distance. Traveling 30 or more miles for routine visits, prescription renewals, or blood work for health maintenance becomes problematic as the closure date quickly approaches. At the forum, residents praised the staff of the Laguna
Vista UTRGV Clinic for their care and dedication to the residents.
Over the past few weeks, a great deal of information and misinformation appeared on the neighborhood app Next-Door. In fact, the first inkling of a pending closure came from a concerned resident on the Next-Door app asking if the rumors were true; which, in turn, spawned community awareness about the potential closure. It did not take long for a highly conscientious group of individuals to form what some call the “Committee” to write letters, send emails and rally the residents of Laguna Vista to start receiving some answers. The group offered their appreciation to Donald Hayden, Natalie Ruiz and Ralston Creswell for organizing the forum in an effort to answer much asked questions.
In attendance were several UTRGV, state, and local government representatives. Joe Galvan, Deputy Legal Counsel for UTRGV explained that the clinic was losing money.
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