UAB Hospital was recognized as a high-performing hospital that provides excellent care to patients in underserved communities on U.S. News & World Report’s first-ever list of “Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access”.
The publication highlighted 53 hospitals that received a “Best Regional Hospital” designation in 2023 and meet at least two of the following criteria:
- At least 40% of patients are from a community with significant socioeconomic deprivation, based on the Area Deprivation Index.
- At least 20% of patients are racial/ethnic minorities, or the hospital ranks in the highest tier on at least one of five measures of racial/ethnic patient representation.
- At least 20% of patients are enrolled in Medicaid, or the hospital ranks in the highest tier for low-income patient representation.
“At UAB Medicine, we are pleased to be recognized for the targeted approach we take to making sure we can demonstrate the measurable impact of our community outreach on equitable access,” said Vice President of Community Health Equity Verlon Salley. “We spend a great deal of time studying the data to identify where the issues lie, how we will address the inequities, and how we can measure our progress.”
Tavia Binger, senior health data analyst at U.S. News, says the list honors 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,” Binger said. “However, it 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.”
Click here to see the complete list and learn more.