Healthcare Equality Index 2O13 Promoting Equitable and Inclusive Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Patients and Their Families
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Healthcare Equality Index 2O13 Promoting Equitable and Inclusive Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Patients and Their Families 718 of the nation’s healthcare facilities demonstrated their commitment to LGBT equity and inclusion in the HEI 2O13 HEI 2O13 HEI 2O13 Healthcare Equality Contents Index 2O13 Promoting Equitable & Inclusive Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender 3 Letter from HRC Foundation President Patients and Their Families 4 Why the HEI? Author Shane Snowdon, HRC Health & Aging Program Director 8 How to Participate in the HEI 2014 Research & Technical Alison Delpercio, HRC Family Project Associate Director 10 Overview of Findings Assistance Team Danielle Stern, HRC Family Project Intern 12 Comparative Responses to Core Four Leader Criteria, HEI 2010-2013 Marcos Garcia, HRC Health & Aging Program Interim Coordinator 15 State Representation in HEI 2013 16 VA Medical Centers Stand Out in HEI 2013 About the The Human Rights Campaign Foundation Health & Aging Program (HAP) administers the Healthcare HRC Foundation Equality Index and provides other resources to promote the well-being of LGBT people. In addition to the 21 Findings: The HEI 2013 Core Four Leader Criteria Health & Aging online training provided under the auspices of the HEI, HAP provides in-person LGBT health and aging 22 Patient Non-Discrimination Policies Program education to hospitals, clinics, health schools and other organizations throughout the nation. HAP also 23 Equal Visitation Policies researches, develops and advocates for LGBT health and aging initiatives at the federal, state and local 24 Employment Non-Discrimination Policies levels and provides support to groups and individuals seeking to enhance LGBT well-being via education, 25 Training in LGBT Patient-Centered Care policy, research and direct services. HAP serves as a national clearinghouse for information and resources related to LGBT health and aging. 27 Findings: Additional Best Practices Checklist 28 LGBT Patient Services and Support 30 Transgender Patient Services and Support Acknowledgments Deepest thanks to Alison Delpercio, HRC Family Project Associate Director, for her committed and skillful 31 Patient Self-Identification work on the HEI since its 2007 inception, and to Ellen Kahn, HRC Family Project Director, for her longtime guidance of the HEI, which was initiated under her leadership. 33 Medical Decision-Making 34 Employment Benefits & Policies Many thanks to HRC Family Project intern Danielle Stern for outreach, analysis and training coordination; to 37 Community Engagement Health & Aging Program Interim Coordinator Marcos Garcia for analysis and training coordination; to former HRC Family Project Deputy Director Tom Sullivan for outreach; to HRC Family Project interns Hillary Wilk and 38 HEI 2013 Leader Testimonials Jessica St. Germain for research; and to Tony Frye for report design. 52 HEI 2013 Leaders in Healthcare Equality Special thanks to the HEI 2013 Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality who provided testimonials for this report. 58 Appendix A: HEI 2013 Core Four Leader Criteria Responses by Name 71 Appendix B: HEI 2013 Core Four Leader Criteria Responses by State The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association is an endorsing partner of the Healthcare Equality Index. © 2013 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The HRC Foundation grants permission for the reproduction and redistribution of this publication only when it is reproduced in its entirety and distri- The HEI was funded in part by generous grants from Pfizer Inc. and PhRMA. bution is free of charge. The Human Rights Campaign name, the Healthcare Equality Index name and the HEI Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality logo are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign. ISBN-10: 1934765279 ISBN-13: 978-1-934765-27-2 Healthcare Equality Index 2O13 www.hrc.org/hei HEI 2O13 HEI 2O13 Healthcare Equality Contents Index 2O13 Promoting Equitable & Inclusive Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender 3 Letter from HRC Foundation President Patients and Their Families 4 Why the HEI? Author Shane Snowdon, HRC Health & Aging Program Director 8 How to Participate in the HEI 2014 Research & Technical Alison Delpercio, HRC Family Project Associate Director 10 Overview of Findings Assistance Team Danielle Stern, HRC Family Project Intern 12 Comparative Responses to Core Four Leader Criteria, HEI 2010-2013 Marcos Garcia, HRC Health & Aging Program Interim Coordinator 15 State Representation in HEI 2013 16 VA Medical Centers Stand Out in HEI 2013 About the The Human Rights Campaign Foundation Health & Aging Program (HAP) administers the Healthcare HRC Foundation Equality Index and provides other resources to promote the well-being of LGBT people. In addition to the 21 Findings: The HEI 2013 Core Four Leader Criteria Health & Aging online training provided under the auspices of the HEI, HAP provides in-person LGBT health and aging 22 Patient Non-Discrimination Policies Program education to hospitals, clinics, health schools and other organizations throughout the nation. HAP also 23 Equal Visitation Policies researches, develops and advocates for LGBT health and aging initiatives at the federal, state and local 24 Employment Non-Discrimination Policies levels and provides support to groups and individuals seeking to enhance LGBT well-being via education, 25 Training in LGBT Patient-Centered Care policy, research and direct services. HAP serves as a national clearinghouse for information and resources related to LGBT health and aging. 27 Findings: Additional Best Practices Checklist 28 LGBT Patient Services and Support 30 Transgender Patient Services and Support Acknowledgments Deepest thanks to Alison Delpercio, HRC Family Project Associate Director, for her committed and skillful 31 Patient Self-Identification work on the HEI since its 2007 inception, and to Ellen Kahn, HRC Family Project Director, for her longtime guidance of the HEI, which was initiated under her leadership. 33 Medical Decision-Making 34 Employment Benefits & Policies Many thanks to HRC Family Project intern Danielle Stern for outreach, analysis and training coordination; to 37 Community Engagement Health & Aging Program Interim Coordinator Marcos Garcia for analysis and training coordination; to former HRC Family Project Deputy Director Tom Sullivan for outreach; to HRC Family Project interns Hillary Wilk and 38 HEI 2013 Leader Testimonials Jessica St. Germain for research; and to Tony Frye for report design. 52 HEI 2013 Leaders in Healthcare Equality Special thanks to the HEI 2013 Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality who provided testimonials for this report. 58 Appendix A: HEI 2013 Core Four Leader Criteria Responses by Name 71 Appendix B: HEI 2013 Core Four Leader Criteria Responses by State The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association is an endorsing partner of the Healthcare Equality Index. © 2013 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The HRC Foundation grants permission for the reproduction and redistribution of this publication only when it is reproduced in its entirety and distri- The HEI was funded in part by generous grants from Pfizer Inc. and PhRMA. bution is free of charge. The Human Rights Campaign name, the Healthcare Equality Index name and the HEI Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality logo are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign. ISBN-10: 1934765279 ISBN-13: 978-1-934765-27-2 Healthcare Equality Index 2O13 www.hrc.org/hei HEI 2O13 HEI 2O13 From the Human Rights Campaign Foundation President “When we find ourselves in a healthcare setting, we are often at our most vulnerable. At these The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is very For years, the HEI has been a highly moments, being treated with dignity and being close to loved ones can be the most important things. proud to present this report on the Healthcare effective force for meaningful change in The HEI is an important tool for making sure that LGBT people are treated with the Equality Index (HEI) 2013. The HEI 2013 survey U.S. healthcare policies and practices, calling period spanned late 2012 and early 2013, a time for non-discrimination and equal visitation well same respect and care in these situations as everyone wants to be treated. It shines of tremendous strides toward LGBT equality, before these became regulatory and accreditation a light on what our country’s healthcare institutions are doing to serve their LGBT patients.” and this report shows that the country’s requirements. The HEI 2013’s Core Four Leader healthcare facilities are very much a part of Criteria and Best Practices Checklist continue —Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services our nation’s movement toward full equity the tradition of informing and supporting the and inclusion for LGBT Americans. burgeoning numbers of healthcare facilities that are committed to LGBT patient-centered care. Since 2007, the HEI has been a unique and invaluable tool for healthcare facilities seeking to This report details the requirements and provide LGBT patient-centered care—and in 2013 recommendations for LGBT equity and inclusion an unparalleled number of facilities took advantage that are provided and tracked by the HEI. Key of the HEI’s comprehensive resources. No fewer among these is the prohibition of discrimination than 718 healthcare facilities are included against transgender patients and employees. The in this report, a 153% increase from the HEI HEI has prompted a huge increase in the number 2012. Equally impressive, 464 of these facilities of facilities providing this essential protection—but