Hidalgo County Opens First OnMed CareStation in the Valley
Staff Report
EDINBURG, TX — Hidalgo County officials marked a milestone in health care access this week with the opening of the Rio Grande Valley’s first OnMed CareStation at the county’s McAllen clinic.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 3 drew local leaders, including County Judge Richard F. Cortez, Precinct 2 Commissioner Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu, and Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Director Dairen Sarmiento Rangel, alongside representatives from OnMed and Molina Healthcare.
The CareStation, described as a private, ADA-accessible “Clinic-in-a-Box,” uses secure telehealth technology to connect residents with licensed medical providers. Patients can measure vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels on-site before consulting with a provider in real time.
The station provides no-cost primary care visits to Hidalgo County residents without requiring appointments, part of a broader push to remove barriers to care.
“This marks an important and meaningful milestone for health care in Hidalgo County,” Cortez said. “Too many of our families face barriers to quality and affordable services. The CareStation is an innovative way to close that gap.”
Rangel added that the station expands the department’s reach by including primary care among its services: “We are so proud to offer this valuable resource to our Hidalgo County residents.”
Developed through a partnership between OnMed and Molina Healthcare of Texas, the station offers clinical guidance, prescriptions, and referrals for patients age 2 and older.
OnMed, a hybrid care company, has introduced its CareStations across the U.S. to improve health equity in underserved communities. Molina Healthcare, a Fortune 500 company, provides government-funded health plans through Medicaid, Medicare and Marketplace programs.
The McAllen installation positions Hidalgo County as the first in South Texas to implement the technology.
Source — Hidalgo County Health & Human Services Department