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Study Finds Hospitals Don’t Always Have an Open Door Policy, Particularly When it Comes to Race
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Institute also found that many of the most and least racially inclusive hospitals are in the same U.S. cities, reflecting segregated healthcare markets. Of the 11 metro areas identified by the Lown Institute with significant market segregation, New Orleans stands out at the top of the list, with seven of its 14 hospitals (50%) ranking among the most or least inclusive.
The post Study Finds Hospitals Don’t Always Have an Open Door Policy, Particularly When it Comes to Race first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
New data has exposed a concerning trend in American healthcare: a stark racial divide in patient populations. Contrary to claims of open access for all, dozens of hospitals exhibit significant racial exclusivity, a report from the independent healthcare think tank Lown Institute has shown.
The study identifies two Midwest hospitals and one in the South as the most segregated in the nation. According to federal patient data, the segregation has resulted in a nine-year gap in life expectancy between white and Black residents in a single county.
St. Louis, Detroit, and New Orleans residents, particularly those of Black ethnicity, find themselves grappling with pronounced racial disparities in their local hospitals. Among these cities, New Orleans emerged as the most affected, boasting the highest percentage of hospitals offering de facto segregated healthcare. Of its 14 hospitals, five exhibit the least inclusivity regarding racially diverse patient populations.
Conversely, individuals living near specific hospitals in Chicago, Newark, or Boston are positioned closer to more inclusive healthcare environments, offering a glimmer of hope for improved equity in medical services.
Founded in 1973 by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Bernard Lown, who developed the defibrillator and cardioverter, the Lown Institute seeks to better the hospital system for all. Its comprehensive report highlights the cities with the highest degrees of racial segregation in their hospitals and provides insights into the institutions leading the way in inclusivity.
“It’s refreshing to see that some hospitals make caring for those most in need their top priority,” Vikas Saini, MD, president of the Lown Institute, said in a news release. “Inclusive hospitals show that it’s possible to serve everyone, even when it may be against their financial interest.”
The Lown Institute lists the following hospitals are the most racially inclusive in America:
- Boston Medical Center (Boston, MA)
- John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital (Chicago, IL)
- UChicago Medicine (Chicago, IL)
- Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (Philadelphia, PA)
- Metro Nashville General Hospital (Nashville, TN)
- South Coast Global Medical Center (Santa Ana, CA)
- St. Charles Madras (Madras, OR)
- Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta, GA)
- Methodist Hospitals (Gary, IN)
- Emory University Hospital Midtown (Atlanta, GA)
The Institute also found that many of the most and least racially inclusive hospitals are in the same U.S. cities, reflecting segregated healthcare markets. Of the 11 metro areas identified by the Lown Institute with significant market segregation, New Orleans stands out at the top of the list, with seven of its 14 hospitals (50%) ranking among the most or least inclusive.
The U.S. cities with the most segregated hospital markets are:
- New Orleans, LA
- St. Louis, MO
- Detroit, MI
- Milwaukee, WI
- Philadelphia, PA
- Kansas City, MO
- Chicago, IL
- Denver, CO
- Phoenix, AZ
- Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
- Atlanta, GA
The most segregated hospital markets were determined by examining the proportion of hospitals within a metropolitan statistical area receiving either 1 star (lowest score) or 5 stars (highest score) on Lown’s racial inclusivity ranking. All cities included on the list had more than 20% of hospitals at those extremes.
“Hospitals will say their doors are open to everyone and that they don’t turn anyone away, but that can be misleading,” Saini remarked. “If hospitals really want to undo structural racism’s hold on their communities, they can’t be bystanders. They need to act more systematically and with more intention.”
Click here to view the full report.
The post Study Finds Hospitals Don’t Always Have an Open Door Policy, Particularly When it Comes to Race first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2
Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0xUKM6U2Lpc&autoplay=0&cc_lang_pref=en&cc_load_policy=0&color=0&controls=1&fs=1&h1=en&loop=0&rel=0
Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive
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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82
Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire
Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.
His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.
Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.
In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.
The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.
Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.
Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.
As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.
Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.
His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.
“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”
Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.
“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”
Sly Stone is survived by three children.
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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

By Congressman James E. Clyburn
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.
“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.
“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”
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