Adapting For Today and Tomorrow

ADAPTING TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY

1. A ROCKWALL COUNTY MEDICAL DIRECTOR. You may be thinking “don’t we have one of these already?” Over the last two years we have been through three different Rockwall County Medical Authorities. Not much difference in title, sure, but the true difference is in what they have the ability to do. The reason for the turnover is also tied to that difference. As currently structured, the Medical Authority for the county is only an advisory position to the County Judge. Despite the medical degree and the knowledge and experience and connections that come with that, the Rockwall County Medical Authority has no power to speak to the people of Rockwall County, no power to make public recommendations, no authority to share medical information received from the state that would benefit the people of Rockwall County. The Medical Authority only has the power to speak to the County Judge and then watch as the information stops there. A true County Medical Director would have the responsibility to facilitate the flow of information to and from the state. This would mean no more fighting the state for information and statistical data that larger counties had been receiving through proper channels for weeks and months. It would mean improved access to testing so that Rockwall County can track data for itself rather than spending months wondering about the actual impact of illness in our own community. A true County Medical Director would have the responsibility to speak openly to Rockwall County citizens about issues affecting the health of them and their families, to give them the information they need to make their own decisions regarding the health of their families, and to communicate with state and county officials to make sure the health needs of this community are met. It is long overdue, and after working the problem from the inside for the last two years, Frank has come to accept the fact that this change will only come from new leadership.
  
2. A ROCKWALL COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. The main source of information sharing between the county and its people cannot continue to be the County Judge’s social media account. Effectively spreading official information throughout a county is not a problem we think about until we really need to do it. Thanks to Covid19, we know that our current methods are inadequate. Now that we know, immediate action is required to better prepare Rockwall County for the future. A Public Information Officer would open the lines of communication between the County and its cities and citizens. The people of Rockwall County would benefit from this across all aspects of life in the county. Making someone responsible to the citizens for the fast and efficient spread of factual information is crucial to serving a growing Rockwall County population.