U.S. News & World Report Names UAMS Arkansas’ ‘Best Hospital for Equitable Access’
| LITTLE ROCK — U.S. News & World Report named the UAMS Medical Center as an inaugural “Best Regional Hospital for Equitable Access,” recognizing 53 health care institutions that the magazine said both excel in quality and provide substantial access to care to socioeconomically disadvantaged patients.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) was the only hospital in Arkansas included in the list, which spanned 26 states.
“At UAMS, we are committed to providing the best possible care to all Arkansans,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and chief executive officer of UAMS Health. “It is our privilege to be entrusted with the care of so many, and we are honored to be recognized for our commitment to high quality, equitable care.”
U.S. News identified 53 hospitals throughout the United States that received a Best Regional Hospital designation in 2023 and met at least two of the following criteria: 1) had 40% or more of its patients who lived in more socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods, according to the Area Deprivation Index, 2) served 20% or more racial/ethnic minority patients or was in the highest tier in at least one of five measures of racial and ethnic patient representation and 3) served 20% or more Medicaid patients or was in the highest tier in the measure of low-income patient representation.
“The Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access demonstrate by their example that a hospital can both excel in overall quality of care and also provide a substantial amount of that exceptional care to historically underserved communities,” said Ben Harder, chief of health analysis and managing editor at U.S. News. “Recognizing community hospitals that lead in this respect is a modest but necessary step toward ensuring everyone in the U.S. has access to high quality medical care.”
“Since UAMS was founded, it has been a place where anyone could receive care, regardless of ability to pay,” said Michelle Krause, M.D., senior vice chancellor for UAMS Health and chief executive officer for UAMS Medical Center. “As the state’s only academic health system, we have an incredible obligation to the people of Arkansas. Recognitions like this offer a clear indication that we are fulfilling our obligation.”
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,275 students, 890 medical residents and fellows, and five dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.###