Posted: 3/12/2021
Recognized for COVID-19 testing efforts in Dallas County
On March 12, the Texas Hospital Association named Parkland Health & Hospital System as the recipient of the prestigious 2020 Excellence in Community Service Award for its outstanding contributions to Dallas County COVID-19 testing. Established in 1996, the award recognizes hospitals and healthcare systems that have distinguished themselves through contributions to their community. This marks the fourth time that Parkland has been honored with the award.
“We are proud of this recognition of the tireless and selfless efforts of Parkland’s COVID-19 testing teams who have been dedicated to the health and safety of Dallas County residents throughout this pandemic,” said Fred Cerise, MD, MPH, Parkland president and CEO. “Many of them have spent countless days outdoors in the heat and cold, wearing layers of PPE, to ensure that everyone needing a test can get one. This is the meaning of community service and we are honored that Texas Hospital Association has recognized their dedication and professionalism.”
Parkland opened its first COVID-19 testing site at a drive-up location on the main hospital campus in Dallas on March 16, 2020. As the pandemic spread and need for COVID testing expanded, Parkland kept pace with the demand by opening drive-through and walk-up testing sites throughout the county with a focus on providing convenient access for those living in high-risk ZIP codes.
As of March 12, 2021, Parkland has completed more than 262,000 COVID-19 tests at COVID-19 testing sites including a drive-thru at the main hospital campus, two federally funded mega-sites, two mobile testing teams and three walk-up sites, as well as a number of Parkland Community Oriented Primary Care health centers and Parkland Memorial Hospital. Parkland also deployed mobile teams to nursing homes, assisted living centers, correctional facilities and other treatment facilities. During the summer of 2020, Parkland averaged 1,000 tests per day.
COVID-19 disproportionately impacts socioeconomically disadvantaged communities – with higher infection and death rates among Black people and Hispanics in many areas. Knowing that parts of the county have adequate access to private facilities for COVID-19 testing, Parkland targeted those living in economically challenged, under-served communities at elevated risk.
Parkland sent communications to underserved communities to ensure at-risk groups knew about the services that were available to them. They also focused on advertising and media to educate targeted communities on COVID-19 safety precautions.
Parkland also worked to create alternatives to traditional means of delivering healthcare by expanding telehealth programs and increasing phone and video encounters in outpatient services. Parkland provided more than 450 portable pulse oximetry devices to patients with COVID diagnosis and mild symptoms to enable monitoring at home.
Since March 2020, Parkland has provided care to more than 43,651 COVID-19 positive patients, including more than 5,000 inpatients, and has administered more than 157,500 COVID-19 vaccinations.
For more information about the THA Excellence in Community Service award, please visit www.tha.org. To learn more about Parkland services, visit www.parklandhospital.com
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About the Texas Hospital Association
Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 85% of the state’s acute-care hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 400,000 health care professionals statewide. Learn more about THA at www.tha.org or follow THA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/texashospitals.