STHS Edinburgh named best regional hospital for equal access
Mega Doctor News
Across the country, low-income and working families lack access to health care for a variety of reasons, including geographic barriers, inability to afford a doctor’s visit, and lack of health insurance.
In the Rio Grande Valley, economic inequality and income inequality have led to large disparities in access to health care, resulting in all four counties in the region – Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy – being declared medically underserved communities.
STHS Edinburgh is one of 53 hospitals recognized for their service to underserved communities
According to the U.S. Census, between 25.3 and 32.8 percent of people in the valley currently live in poverty. By comparison, the number of uninsured people in the entire region is around 30 percent, well above the national average.
Despite the health care disparities seen throughout the Valley, residents can count on South Texas Health System Edinburg and its partner facilities to provide high-quality care to underserved populations.
South Texas Health System Edinburg has been recognized as one of the Best Regional Equitable Access Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report because of its proven track record as a high-performing hospital for patient care in our underserved communities.
“The best regional hospitals for equitable access show by example that a hospital can both provide outstanding overall quality of care and provide much of that exceptional care in traditionally underserved communities,” said Ben Harder, director of healthcare analysis and senior editor of U.S. News & World Report. “Recognizing community hospitals that lead in this regard is a modest but necessary step to ensure that everyone in the United States has access to high-quality health care.”
STHS Edinburg is one of only three hospitals in Texas to receive this award and the only hospital in the Valley to be recognized for equitable access.
“It is imperative that all people have access to the care they need, regardless of age, race, gender or socioeconomic status, and we are proud of the staff and physicians at South Texas Health System Edinburg and our partner facilities who work tirelessly every day to provide high-quality, compassionate care to all patients,” said Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer of STHS Edinburg & STHS Children’s. “South Texas Health System is committed to improving the health and well-being of all people in the Rio Grande Valley. Through our relentless focus on quality, we are working to change lives and transform health care for all.”
To receive this award, STHS Edinburg and the other 53 Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access had to meet at least two of the following criteria: 1) At least 40 percent of patients had to be from a community with greater socioeconomic disadvantage (as determined by the Area Deprivation Index), 2) At least 20 percent of patients had to be from racial/ethnic minorities or be in the highest tier for at least one of five criteria for racially or ethnically diverse patient representation, and 3) At least 20 percent of patients had to serve Medicaid patients or be in the highest tier for low-income patient representation.
In 2022, STHS Edinburg opened a $105 million patient tower, more than doubling the size of the facility to provide expanded health services to the City of Edinburg and surrounding communities, including a new cardiac catheterization laboratory to diagnose and treat heart conditions, an expanded laboratory department to more efficiently perform testing on biological samples, and enhanced emergency, intensive care and rehabilitation services.
STHS Edinburgh, which was recently named the best regional hospital by US News and World Report is part of the South Texas Health System, the largest integrated health care network in the Rio Grande Valley, for the third consecutive year. For more information about the facility, its services and its commitment to health equity, visit www.sthsedinburg.com.
