Statement to Dallas County Commissioner’s Court, April 13, 2004

Dallas Area Interfaith is a broad-based, multi-ethnic, multi-racial coalition of 60 religious institutions.  Our members blanket the Dallas metroplex from Grand Prairie to Mesquite and from Frisco to DeSoto.  We represent diverse socio-economic groups and organize people around their vision, values, and common interests.  Our organization works to renew local participation in the democratic process.  We work for and take action on issues that affect the common good of our community.

Over the past several months, DAI has focused research meetings around Parkland Hospital. Our leaders want to participate in decisions that will impact all of us. We have had conversations with a broad range of community members:  business leaders, members of the health care community, elected officials, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens of Dallas County.  Interest in the crisis at Parkland is high among all of these various groups.  We learned that there is agreement that the Parkland system is a precious and vital resource to our county, to all of us.  Regardless of our income level, we are all affected by what happens at Parkland.

Dallas Area Interfaith understands that there are many issues that contribute to Parkland's current problems:  a flat tax base; a growing population needing the services of Parkland; a decrease in federal and state health care funds; the diminished hours that resident doctors can work; and an aging facility in need of expansion.  These issues are not solved by diminishing the ACCESS TO or the QUALITY OF vital services needed by the most vulnerable of our society.  These issues CAN be resolved if the Dallas community ACTS like the world class city that it can be and takes action on behalf of the common good.  That is what the future Board of Managers will be called upon to do and that is the challenge before us today.

DAI is looking to you, the Dallas County Commissioners Court, to take the leadership and to appoint people to Parkland's Board of Managers who have the following characteristics:

*An understanding of the impact that Parkland has on the economic future of this region, county and city;

*An understanding of and respect for the people and community that Parkland serves;

*An understanding that Parkland is a public, not for profit hospital;

*An understanding of and respect for the changing demographics of the North Texas region and the central role that Parkland plays for the quality health care of that growing population;

*An understanding that Parkland is a national model for public hospitals and as such should be lifted up for that accomplishment and not diminished because of shortsightedness.

DAI believes that the skills needed for this position can be learned.  It is essential that a person holding this position be collaborative, visionary, community oriented, relational, and passionate about quality health care for all of the citizens of this region.  Hopefully you will provide the leadership to choose people with those characteristics.

Thank you.