(April 9, 2018) - For the fifth consecutive year, Rush Oak Park Hospital has been designated a "Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality" in the Healthcare Equality Index, an annual survey of how health care facilities in the United States treat lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning patients and their families, as well as their own LGBTQ employees. Rush University Medical Center received its tenth consecutive designation as an LGBTQ leader.
The report on the 2018 survey was released March 27.
The HEI is administered annually by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the HRC, the largest LGBTQ organization in the United States, and is intended to encourage equal care of LGBTQ patients.
The Rush hospitals are among a select group of 418 health care facilities nationwide to be named leaders in the report, which evaluated more than 1,500 health care facilities in all.
HEI participants again were given scores in four criteria that represent how many policies and best practices they have implemented from each section: LGBTQ patient-centered care; LGBTQ patient services and support; employee benefits and policies; and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. The hospitals received the maximum score in each section, for a total score of 100 points, to earn the coveted status of 2018 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.
"We are proud to see Rush University Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital again recognized for leading the cause of LGBTQ health care equality," says Christopher Nolan, MPA, manager of community benefits and population health, and co-chair of Rush's LGBTQ Leadership Council. "This honor reflects the commitment of our senior leaders and our LGBTQ Leadership Council to making Rush a place that welcomes and respects members of the LGBTQ community and recognizes and meets their unique needs. Rush's efforts in this area make a tangible, beneficial difference in the lives and health of our LGBTQ patients, employees and students."
Rush’s commitment to a welcoming environment for LGBTQ patients, students, employees and visitors includes the 2014 creation of the LGBTQ Leadership Council of Rush’s Diversity Leadership Council, which provides guidance to Rush University Medical Center, Rush University and Rush Oak Park Hospital about diversity issues and initiates events throughout the year to promote diversity.
