Parkland annual report posted, nurses honored; Medicare Advantage shifts and flu hospitalizations on the watch list

Parkland Health and other Dallas-area health institutions posted several updates in the past week that touch hospital operations, community engagement, coverage changes and seasonal illness.

Parkland posts its 2025 annual report

Parkland Health published its 2025 annual report on Feb. 25 and posted the document as a downloadable PDF. The report is listed on Parkland’s website under PDF files.

Parkland nurses recognized in regional and local awards

Parkland said March 3 that 15 registered nurses were recognized by two organizations for providing high-quality, safe and compassionate care and for dedication to serving the Dallas County community. Parkland said seven of the honorees were included in the 2026 Dallas/Fort Worth Great 100 Nurses, and the hospital also noted that recognitions include D Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Awards.

In the same update, Parkland said nearly 5,000 nurses are employed system-wide, serving patients in inpatient and outpatient settings as well as at Dallas County Jail facilities.

Health insurance watch: Medicare Advantage disruption in 2026

An Investopedia report, citing research published in JAMA, said about 10% of Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2026 were disenrolled by their insurer, up from 6.9% in 2025. The article described insurers withdrawing from some Medicare Advantage markets amid policy changes intended to curb Medicare Advantage overspending.

For Dallas-area seniors and caregivers, the immediate impact is administrative: plan availability, networks and benefits can change from year to year. Official notices from insurers and Medicare remain the primary source for plan-specific details.

Outbreak and hospital readiness: CDC reports flu hospitalizations remain significant

In its Week 7 FluView update (week ending Feb. 21), the CDC reported 25,558 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations recorded by FluSurv-NET sites since Oct. 1, 2025. The agency also reported that the observed weekly hospitalization rate decreased from the prior week, while noting that prior counts and rates can be updated as additional reports arrive.

Dallas residents can monitor local guidance from public health agencies and health systems as respiratory virus activity continues to be tracked nationally and locally.

Community health conversation scheduled in southern Dallas

The Dallas Morning News announced a free March 10 panel at The DEC Network at the Shops at RedBird focused on food and holistic health. The event listing said the discussion will include North Texas health leaders, with participation noted from Children’s Health, Parkland Health, Methodist Health System and UT Southwestern.

Sources

https://www.parklandhealth.org/pdf-files/2025-parkland-annual-report-128
https://www.parklandhealth.org/phhs/News-and-Updates/2262.aspx
https://www.investopedia.com/what-the-massive-medicare-advantage-shakeup-means-for-your-retirement-coverage-11910160
https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-07.html
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/health-care/2026/02/26/join-the-dallas-morning-news-in-red-bird-in-march-for-a-panel-on-food-and-health/

If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.