St. John’s Regional Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer by the Human Rights Campaign which is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ organization.
The HEI is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign for our dedicated work with the LGBTQ+ community,” states Barry Wolfman, President of St. John’s Regional Medical Center. “We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion in order to provide everyone with a welcoming and safe environment to receive care.”
The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:
Foundational Policies and Training in LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care;
LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support;
Employee Benefits and Policies; and,
Patient and Community Engagement.
LGBTQ+ patients have historically faced significant and long standing challenges to accessing the care they need, and St. John’s is committed to providing welcoming, compassionate care for LGBTQ+ patients and their families.
“Every person deserves to have access to quality healthcare, be respected and heard by their doctor, and feel safe in the facility where they are receiving care. But LGBTQ+ people are often subject to discrimination in all spaces, including healthcare facilities, which leads to members of the community avoiding care and anticipating our voices will not be respected in an incredibly vulnerable environment,” said Tari Hanneman, Director of Health & Aging at The Human Rights Campaign. “The Healthcare Equality Index, at its core, strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their healthcare providers and feel safe seeking services. Our HEI active participants are truly pioneering the healthcare industry by implementing robust, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that hopefully, because of their work, will become standard practice.”
For more information about St. John’s commitment to LGBTQ+ care, visit www.dignityhealth.org/lgbtqcare.
