Healthy Connections, an Arkansas-based Federally Qualified Health Center, has earned two 2026 HRSA quality badges recognizing measurable progress in expanding access to care and using technology to improve how patients receive and manage their healthcare.
Healthy Connections received the Improving Health Care Access badge and the Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality badge. The organization earned two recognitions this year compared with one during the previous award cycle.
HRSA awards Community Health Quality Recognition badges annually to eligible health centers based on their most recent Uniform Data System reporting. The 2026 badges are based on data reported for 2025 and recognize achievements in access, clinical quality, health outcomes and health information technology.
Improving Health Care Access
The Improving Health Care Access badge recognizes health centers that demonstrate progress in clinical quality while reaching more patients and connecting them with additional services.
For 2026, recipients had to meet a recognized clinical-quality benchmark or improve by at least 15 percent in one or more clinical quality measures. They also had to increase both the total number of patients served and the number receiving services such as behavioral health, substance-use treatment, dental care or patient support services by at least 5 percent across consecutive reporting years.
For Healthy Connections, the recognition supports an ongoing commitment to reducing barriers and making comprehensive care available to more people throughout Arkansas.
Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality
The Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality badge recognizes health centers that use technology to improve access, communication and coordination of care.
To earn the badge, health centers must offer telehealth services, exchange clinical information electronically with other healthcare settings, use technology to engage patients and collect information about patients’ health-related needs.
“These recognitions reflect a lot of steady, day-to-day work by our providers, clinical teams, quality staff, information technology team and support departments,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections. “I congratulate everyone who contributed. We are encouraged by the progress, but we also know there is more work ahead as we continue improving access and the quality of care we provide.”
Earning Two 2026 HRSA Quality Badges
The two badges reflect Healthy Connections’ continued commitment to its pillars of Community, Compassion and Excellence. They also reinforce the organization’s work to reach more Arkansans while using connected services and technology to support quality care.
Healthy Connections has provided medical, dental and behavioral health services to Arkansas communities for more than 25 years. To learn more, find a Healthy Connections location, or schedule an appointment, call 888-710-8220.
