Prism Health North Texas Named Finalist for D CEO Award

Published: 05-26-2021 | 2 MIN READ | Author: Prism Health North Texas

The extraordinary response to COVID-19 pandemic earns the organization a top spot amongst 2021 Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards nominees.

Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) is proud to be named a finalist for the 2021 Organization of the Year award in the Healthcare category as part of the D CEO 2021 Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards presented in partnership with the Communities Foundation of Texas and sponsored by Capital One. This year’s program attracted more than 500 nominations. After several judging sessions, a total of 112 finalists were named (81 nonprofit organizations and leaders and 31 corporate citizens).

PHNTX was named as one of four finalists in the Healthcare Organization of the Year category along with Methodist Health System, Texas Health Resources, and Visiting Nurse Association of Texas.

Primed with 30 years of fighting the HIV epidemic, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the nonprofit organization to rapidly adapt all services to serve the community’s changing healthcare needs along with responding to spiking financial instability among their clients. On every level of the organization, efforts were made to serve the community through these unprecedented times. CEO Dr. John Carlo continues to serve on the Texas Medical Association COVID-19 Task Force, providing comfort and information through various panels and media interviews on a daily basis.

“Looking back over an unprecedented year, our team was called to serve our community in extraordinary ways,” said Dr. John Carlo, CEO of Prism Health North Texas. “We are humbled to be recognized for our service along with the other outstanding healthcare organizations in this award category.”

As patient healthcare services were increasing in demand, partially because people living with compromised immune systems are at higher risk for COVID-19, PHNTX was gathering and providing financial support to the large number of patients who faced job loss, reduced or cancelled health insurance, and more. An emergency rent and housing plan was implemented for patients who were at risk of losing housing due to the pandemic.

The organization’s renowned clinical research department was accepted to facilitate a trial of the Astra-Zeneca AZD1222 coronavirus vaccine, for which they recruited over 200 participants. In addition, the organization provided COVID-19 tests to patients and community members and absorbed much of Dallas County’s STI testing needs as the county referred those needing testing to PHNTX.

Patient traffic was also dramatically increased when Dallas County began referring HIV/STI testing and screenings to PHNTX after the county suspended their own HIV/STI testing efforts during the pandemic.

As many of the organization’s patients were at risk of being left behind by various systems before the pandemic, each department of the organization developed new programs and systems of outreach to meet the needs of their patients. As new needs arose during 2020, such as mental wellness, they created virtual community events, offered telehealth appointments, and made efforts to keep in close contact with patients as the pandemic developed. They consistently provided relief, comfort, and community for those in need.

All finalists will be recognized in a special feature in the August issue of D CEO, online, and at an exclusive awards event, where winners will be revealed.

Prism Health North Texas headshot

Author: Prism Health North Texas

PHNTX is committed to providing healthcare for all North Texans in a non-judgmental and affirming environment. The organization strives to remove the barriers that prevent any individual from accessing quality healthcare. PHNTX stands for health equity, especially for marginalized populations including people living with HIV, LGBTQIA+, and ethnic minorities. Every individual has the right to affordable, accessible health care and the opportunity to attain their highest level of health.

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