Parkland Health recognized as ‘Best Regional Hospital for Equitable Access’
One of 53 hospitals recognized by U.S. News & World Report for providing high-quality care to underserved populations
Parkland Health has been recognized for its success as a high performing hospital providing excellent care to patients in underserved communities. The list of “Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access” was revealed at “The State of Equity in America,” 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, Parkland Health.
U.S. News identified 53 hospitals that received a Best Regional Hospital designation in 2023 and met at least two of the following criteria: 1) had 40% or more of its patients from a community of greater socioeconomic deprivation (according to the Area Deprivation Index), 2) served 20% or more racial/ethnic minority patients or was in the highest tier in at least 1 of 5 measures of racial and ethnic patient representation and 3) served 20% or more Medicaid patients or was in the highest tier in the measure of 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.”
“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,” said Tavia Binger, senior health data analyst at U.S. News. “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 health care 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.
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