Posted: 2/1/2022
Name better reflects the organization’s commitment to public health
Consistent with our mission to advance the health and well-being of the community, Parkland leadership has released its five-year strategic plan and changed its “doing business as” (dba) from Parkland Health & Hospital System to Parkland Health. In addition, Parkland’s web address will change to www.parklandhealth.org
“This simplified but strategically important name change embodies our evolution,” said Fred Cerise, MD, Parkland president and CEO. “Unlike hospitals or health systems of the past that treat diseases reactively, we are responsible for proactively improving the overall health of our community.”
Parkland’s 2021-2026 strategic plan will serve as a guide as the system focuses on seven priorities: health equity; quality and patient safety; staff and provider engagement; teaching, research and innovation; integrated healthcare; digital health solutions; and taxpayers investment.
To meet the needs of Dallas County’s most vulnerable residents, over the past few years Parkland has created several programs to deliver care beyond the walls of its facility. The strategic plan furthers that effort.
“We have developed partnerships to help us find residents where they live and work so we can offer vital health information and services closer to their homes. We have created innovative ways to deliver care in the community so that patients are not struggling to find child or elder care, take time off work or pay for transportation so they can visit the hospital for something that could be done closer to home,” Dr. Cerise said. “Instead of bringing people to health services, we are bringing health services to people. And that philosophy represents the next stage of Parkland’s evolution.”
As Parkland takes steps to create a more comprehensive care model, the system is leveraging its valuable brick and mortar facilities while moving more preventive care upstream by creating more touchpoints beyond those facilities, Dr. Cerise noted.
Parkland will also continue to focus its efforts on initiatives outlined in the 2019 Parkland and Dallas County Health and Human Services Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) that address health disparities within Dallas County’s underserved communities. Those health priority conditions include:
- Chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, asthma and cancer
- Maternal and child health
- Sexually transmitted infection cases in Dallas County including HIV
- Behavioral health
- Increasing clinic capacity and access to care
“Through the strategic plan and the CHNA, we will continue our efforts to decrease health disparities by providing equitable access to healthcare services and partnering with communities to address the social determinants of health,” Dr. Cerise said. “Most importantly, we will continue to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ investment by providing the high-quality, cost-effective services that they deserve.”
To view Parkland’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan, visit www.parklandhealth.org/parkland2026
For information on the CHNA, visit www.parklandhealth.org/CHNA