Parkland Health has been recognized as a high-performing hospital providing excellent care to patients in underserved communities. The accolade was announced at "The State of Equity in America," an event held by U.S. News & World Report on June 5, 2024.
"The structure of the U.S. healthcare system breeds inequities in healthcare access and outcomes. At Parkland, we believe your access to necessary healthcare should not be determined by your occupation or income. Health equity is central to our mission. We are fortunate to have the support of Dallas County and our partners at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission providing the resources critical for us to carry out this work," said Fred Cerise, MD, MPH, President & CEO of Parkland Health.
U.S. News identified 53 hospitals for the "Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access" designation in 2023. Hospitals met at least two of the following criteria: serving 40% or more patients from communities of greater socioeconomic deprivation, serving 20% or more racial/ethnic minority patients or excelling in measures of racial and ethnic patient representation, and serving 20% or more Medicaid patients or excelling in low-income patient representation.
"The Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access demonstrate by their example that a hospital can both excel in overall quality of care and also provide a substantial amount of that exceptional care to historically underserved communities," said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. "Recognizing community hospitals that lead in this respect is a modest but necessary step toward ensuring everyone in the U.S. has access to high-quality medical care."
Tavia Binger, senior health data analyst at U.S. News, added, "U.S. News’ recognition of the Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access highlights the important and necessary work hospitals are doing to improve care for underserved communities. This positive representation of community hospitals’ dedication to equitable access across 26 states is promising. However, this recognition also underscores the need for continued focus on prioritizing healthcare among vulnerable populations who may face numerous social and economic challenges in receiving care."
A hospital that has earned a “Best” designation may be a good option for people, in consultation with their medical provider, to consider.
Did you know?
- Parkland Health first opened its doors in 1894.
- Parkland averages 70,000 hospital discharges and 1 million outpatient visits annually.
- Parkland's Level I Rees-Jones Trauma Center is the only burn center in North Texas verified for adult and pediatric patients by the American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
- Parkland is the primary teaching hospital for The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
