The leading health systems for LGBTQ-friendly care, according to the Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has recognized more than 300 health care facilities as "Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality" in its 2017 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).

The Index evaluates medical facilities in five key areas based on their self-reported HEI 2017 survey responses and supporting documentation. The five areas are:

• Non-discrimination and staff training, in which hospitals can earn up to 40 points;
• Patient services and support, in which hospitals can earn up to 30 points;
• Employee benefits and policies, in which hospitals can earn up to 20 points;
• Patient and community engagement, in which hospitals can earn up to 10 points; and
• Responsible citizenship, in which hospitals can lose up to 25 points for large-scale official or public anti-LGBTQ activity.

This year, 303 of the 590 HEI 2017 survey respondents scored 100 points and were named a "2017 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality." Another 144 respondents scored at least 80 points and were named "Top Performer[s]."

In a statement, HRC Foundation President Chad Griffin said since the index launched 10 years ago, it "has helped transform hospitals and health care facilities into more welcoming and inclusive places for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer patients, visitors, and employees." But he said there was still important work to do, such as the addressing "the growing need for comprehensive multidisciplinary clinical care programs to treat transgender children and adolescents."

Industry leaders

HRC recognized certain hospitals as being leaders in providing LQBTQ-friendly health care. For instance, it highlighted Duke Children's Hospital's Center for Child and Adolescent Gender Care, which convenes a range of specialists to provide "holistic, evidence-based, patient- and family-centered care" for transgender children and adolescents.

How hospitals are changing to serve transgender patients

HRC also highlighted health systems which had 10 or more facilities that participated in the survey. They included:

• Veterans Affairs;
• Kaiser Permanente;
• NYC Health + Hospitals Corporation;
• Sutter Health;
• Bon Secours Health System;
• Northwell Health;
• Novant Health;
• University Hospitals of Cleveland; and
• Saint Luke's Health System (Lagasse, Healthcare Finance , 3/29; Manning, Tampa Bay Business Journal, 3/29; HRC index, accessed 4/7).

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