Wood County commissioners heard the annual report from the UT Health system’s emergency medical service. It included a message from UT’s Scott Berkley that during the cyber attack that hit the hospital system last November, the EMS side of the business suffered no problems and continued operating as normal, as well as stepping up to assist in relocating patients to help address some of the system’s challenges.

Berkley also noted that the EMS system had added 12 new ambulances during 2023 and expects to add 12-13 more in 2024. That includes a specially-built critical care transport ambulance.

The addition of Lucas automated CPR devices is already saving lives, he said.

The EMS system is also partnering with the new East Texas medical school in Tyler, with the first-year students already conducting ride-alongs with ambulance crews to learn about emergency medicine.

The system has also recently added Panola County to its territory, deploying additional resources so that other areas of the system are not impacted.

UT Health partners with member communities, working with school districts and first responders, he said.

Commissioners approved the annual proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Interlocal agreements for the May 4 election were approved between the county elections office and the cities of Winnsboro and Mineola and Mineola school district.

A confidentiality policy and agreement were approved for the county and district courts.

All Texas courts are being required to approve such policies and agreements from court employees.