DALLAS AREA INTERFAITH

PLAN TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE

PARKLAND HEALTH AND HOSPITAL SYSTEM

APRIL 27, 2004

Dallas Area Interfaith is an organization consisting of 55 member congregations in Dallas and Collin counties. We teach the process of democracy to our community leaders from each congregation by working on and solving issues in their community, which are important to them. As the importance of the availability of affordable, quality, and accessible healthcare rose to the top of our congregations’ issues, and their awareness that Parkland was in a state of crisis; we commenced a research action to understand this complex topic. Our research has provided us with an in-depth understanding of the issues affecting Parkland.

We have had many conversations with our congregations, business leaders, medical providers, association representatives, community leaders, and politicians concerning Parkland. Within the community there is huge base of support for sustaining and enhancing Parkland and its mission. Parkland Health and Hospital system is the linchpin of the healthcare delivery system in Dallas County.

Based on our research around the issues facing Parkland, we have developed the following plan to sustain and enhance Parkland, which provides direction to this Board, the County Commissioner’s and the community. Each of these strategies includes further details, which will be presented over time, as we observe the response of the Board and County Court.

1. Respect and encourage the presence and participation of citizens in public meetings.

2. Develop a budget adequate to restore confidence in quality service for inpatients and outpatients and which restores staffing and/or overtime in Community Oriented Primary Care clinics.

3. Support an increase in the Dallas County Hospital District tax rate for 2004 to cover restoration of certain services and to meet Parkland’s budget shortfall.

4. Take action to ensure that surrounding counties pay their fair share for their residents who receive care at Parkland.

5. Take action to secure federal funds available for the health care of Medicaid recipients, children, and immigrants, which have been blocked in Austin.

6. Vigorously oppose proposed tax cuts in Austin, which impede the ability of our County Commissioners to promote and protect the viability of our county hospital.

DAI recognizes that some of these strategies are within the scope of the Board of Managers and Commissioner’s Court while others require efforts at the state and federal levels. We are committed to work with all parties at all levels to make these strategies successful.

DAI also recognizes that some of these strategies, the first three, for example, can and should be accomplished in the next few months, while others will take a longer time to implement. We will not tolerate short-term “solutions” on the backs of the poor while waiting for longer term fixes to occur.

Anything less would be a disservice to the community!

To quote Elie Wiesel:

This is the duty of our generation as we enter the twenty-first century -- solidarity with the weak, the persecuted, the lonely, the sick, and those in despair. It is expressed by the desire to give a noble and humanizing meaning to a community in which all members will define themselves not by their own identity but by that of others.