Lexington Medical Center has been recognized for its success as a high performing hospital providing excellent care to patients in underserved communities. The list of “Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access” was revealed today at an exclusive event, “The State of Equity in America,” held by U.S. News & World Report.

“Recognition as Best Regional Hospital for Equitable Access reflects our commitment to providing quality health services that meet the needs of our communities. This honor reflects our belief that commitment to the health of our patients and therefore their community really makes a difference,” said Brent M. Powers, MD, MBA, senior vice president and chief medical officer. “We are dedicated to delivering top quality care and state-of-the-art treatment to our patients, and we are proud of our exceptional physicians, nurses, clinicians and staff for their continued commitment to continuing to provide all patients access to advanced technology and leading-edge techniques.”

U.S. News identified 53 hospitals 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 from a community of greater socioeconomic deprivation (according to the Area Deprivation Index), 2) served 20% or more racial/ethnic minority patients or was in the highest tier in at least 1 of 5 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.”

In 2023, U.S. News & World Report named Lexington Medical Center as the best hospital in the Columbia Metro area for the second year in a row. In addition, Lexington Medical Center was named the second-best hospital in South Carolina.

“U.S. News' recognition of the Best Regional Hospitals for Equitable Access highlights the important and necessary work hospitals are doing to improve care for underserved communities,” said Tavia Binger, senior health data analyst at U.S. News. “This positive representation of community hospitals' dedication to equitable access across 26 states is promising. However, this recognition also underscores the need for continued focus on prioritizing health care among vulnerable populations who may face numerous social and economic challenges in receiving care.”

A hospital that has earned a “Best” designation may be a good option for people, in consultation with their medical provider, to consider.