Safety net hospital

A safety net hospital is a type of medical center in the United States that provides healthcare for individuals regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. These hospitals serve a higher number of uninsured, Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, low-income, and other vulnerable individuals compared to non-safety net hospitals. Safety net hospitals can be publicly or privately owned and their mission is to provide care for those who face barriers to healthcare access. They often offer high-cost services like burn care, trauma care, neonatal treatments, and inpatient behavioral health. Some safety net hospitals also provide training for healthcare professionals. Examples of large safety net hospitals in the United States include the Health and Hospital Corporation in NYC, Cook County Health and Hospital System in Chicago, and Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas. The concept of safety net hospitals has its roots in philanthropic medical institutions of the 19th century that were funded by religious groups or wealthy benefactors and targeted the poor.