Safety-net hospitals provide care for millions of vulnerable, uninsured patients burdened by economic hardship. Though they play an integral role in our nation's health system, these hospitals are rarely recognized for the essential services they provide to their communities.
This list is an ongoing project at Becker's, as there are many safety-net hospitals deserving of recognition.
Here are five more safety-net hospitals in major U.S. cities to know, listed in alphabetic order. See part one of the list here.
Grady Health System (Atlanta). Grady Health got its start in 1892 when it was founded Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, who worried about the lack of access to quality healthcare for impoverished Atlantans. The system has grown from a 110-bed hospital into one of the largest public health systems in the country and, with its nine facilities, is the centerpiece of the safety-net health system in Atlanta. Grady's flagship facility is Grady Memorial Hospital, which is the largest hospital in the state of Georgia. Grady Memorial is known for its Level I trauma center and is the teaching hospital of Atlanta-based Emory University. The system is led by President and CEO John M. Haupert. Mr. Haupert is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and recipient of its Regent's Leadership Award.
NYC Health + Hospitals. Physician-led NYC Health, formerly New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, is the safety-net healthcare system for New York City. President and CEO Ramanathan Raju, MD, was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to lead this $7.2 billion health system and its 42,000 employees in January 2014. Dr. Raju's resume carries 25 years of experience as a practicing vascular and trauma surgeon. As the largest municipal healthcare system in the U.S., NYC Health serves 500,000 uninsured patients across 11 acute care hospitals. The system's Jacobi Medical Center, Harlem Hospital Center and Bellevue Hospital have all been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as top hospitals in New York state. The system's healthcare providers operate under six guiding principles: keep patients first, keep everyone safe, work together, pursue excellence, manage your resources and keep learning.
Parkland Health and Hospital System (Dallas). Frederick P. Cerise, MD, was named president and CEO of Parkland in March 2014. Parkland is one the largest public health systems in the country. The flagship hospital of the system is Parkland Memorial Hospital. PMH averages more than 1 million patient visits per year. The hospital includes a Level I trauma center, the second largest civilian burn center in the nation and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. The system began caring for Dallas residents in a humble clapboard building in 1894 — now the system's new hospital, opened in 2015, boasts nearly 3 million square feet in space and 862 single-patient rooms. Philanthropic donations accounted for $150 million of the new facility's construction cost. In addition to the hospital, the system features 20 community-based clinics, 12 school-based clinics and a multitude of outreach and education programs.
Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (Chicago). PSMEMC got its start more than 100 years ago as two separate hospitals founded by two Catholic healthcare ministries to serve immigrant communities. Decades passed, communities changed and the two hospitals worked side by side until their merger in 2003. The medical center now employs more than 2,000 people, including 500 physicians in 40 specialties. In addition to delivering essential healthcare services to Chicagoans on the near northwest side, the hospital also provides community groups and organizations with conference rooms, a gymnasium and an auditorium to host events like Rep. Luis Gutierrez's job fair and Chicago Public Schools principal meetings. PSMEMC is led by CEO and Regional President Martin Judd. Mr. Judd is an alumnus of Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., and earned his MBA in Healthcare Administration from the Graham School of Management, Saint Xavier University in Chicago. He has 30 years of experience in hospital and healthcare administration.
Swedish Covenant Hospital (Chicago). This award-winning, independent, nonprofit teaching hospital has been serving Chicagoans for more than 125 years and has been led by President and CEO Mark Newton since 2000. Under Mr. Newton's tenure, the hospital has developed a reputation for excellence. For instance, in 2015, the hospital was recognized for its excellence in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with its second Magnet designation. Additionally, patient safety is a top priority at Swedish Covenant — the hospital has received "A" safety scores from The Leapfrog Group in every rating period since the scoring began in June 2012. Half of the hospital's more than 2,500 employees live within five miles of the facility, fostering a communal environment that is unique to Swedish Covenant.
Do you know a safety-net system that should be profiled on our next safety-net hospitals and health systems list? Email Brian Zimmerman at bzimmerman@beckershealthcare.com and it could be included in a new installation on this list.
Note: A correction was made to reflect accurate CEO information for Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center.