County to invest $4.5 million for retention of medical workers

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved allocating $4.52 million – 10 percent — of its American Rescue Plan Act funding to local hospitals and emergency rooms to be used to retain local medical personnel directly working with COVID-19 patients at medical facilities located in Smith County. The Smith County ARPA funds will not be used to pay for traveling or contract nurses, according to a news release. $2 million each is designated to UT Health East Texas and Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System to continue their efforts to retain staff and fight COVID-19 at the point of care, Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran said. The court also approved $100,000 in funding for each of the three freestanding emergency rooms in Smith County. Click here for lots more on this story.