[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


HONORING DR. RON ANDERSON FOR RECEIVING THE LIFE-TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 
  FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2011

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
salute Dr. Ron Anderson who was honored in June, 2011 with the Life-
time Achievement Award at the 2011 National Association of Public 
Hospitals and Health Systems annual conference in Chicago.
  Dr. Ron Anderson, is President and Chief Executive Officer of 
Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Texas. Parkland is 
considered the premier public hospital in the United States. It has 
served the Dallas County community since 1894. Dr. Anderson's 
leadership, dedication to the underserved, commitment to improving the 
health care system for not just his hospital but for the state and 
nation, is ultimately a byproduct of his passion to do what's right for 
those in need.
  Dr. Anderson shaped Parkland with the support of the Dallas community 
to be considered one of the premier public hospitals in the U.S.. and 
is one of the largest. The system has made groundbreaking strides in 
delivery of care and hospital operations but also is known for putting 
theories of public health into application by implementing many 
educational and preventive programs and concepts such as community-
based health care delivery through a county-wide clinic network and a 
mobile medical program for the homeless.
  His 35-year career as a practicing physician and 26-year career as 
CEO have seen many changes in health care, such as nursing shortages, 
new technology, HIPAA (patient privacy laws), health maintenance 
organizations, natural and man-made disasters (plane crashes, 
hurricanes, etc.) resulting in the loss of countless human lives, and 
decreases in revenue streams which often resulted in the cutting or 
rationing of services.
  Yet Dr. Anderson has always sought out much more work outside the 
scope of his job description for the chance to better help those in 
need. Dr. Anderson has long championed causes that improve health care 
for the medically underserved and, as a result, he has become one of 
the nation's leading advocates of health care for the poor.
  Throughout his career he has provided sound advice and experience to 
legislators of both parties regarding health care issues. He has served 
on the National Health Policy Initiative to advise the White House on 
health care issues as well. Since 1992, he has served on the Kaiser 
Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.
  His vision of health care for all, regardless of ability to pay, and 
his desire to see that happen have led to groundbreaking changes to the 
U.S. health care system. In 1985, he played a major role in the passage 
of landmark legislation concerning indigent health care in Texas that 
banned ``patient dumping.''
  On behalf of a deeply grateful community, I want to join with my 
colleagues in the House of Representatives in thanking Dr. Ron Anderson 
on a job well done.

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