UCLA Health has been named a leader in equitable care for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, gay, transgender or queer.
In its annual Healthcare Equality Index released March 29, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation identified each of UCLA Health’s four hospitals as a “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality.”
Hospitals awarded the distinction meet criteria for policies and best practices in four categories: LGBTQ+ patient-centered care, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and community and patient engagement. Among the key measures are non-discrimination policies for patients and employees, equal visitation policies for same-sex partners and staff training.
“UCLA Health is committed to providing one standard of exceptional care to all of our patients,” said Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health, CEO of UCLA Hospital System and associate vice chancellor of UCLA health sciences. “The Healthcare Equality Index is an important resource for patients deciding where to seek medical care and for hospitals to evaluate their efforts to ensure an equitable and inclusive environment.”
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization. Almost 600 hospitals participated in the survey, and the group researched policies at more than 900 additional health care facilities.
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA in Westwood, and UCLA Health - Santa Monica Medical Center, all earned the top designation.
The group’s report “reminds us again that though we have made tremendous gains over the past decade, there is still much more work left for us to do,” said Chad Griffin, president of Human Rights Campaign Foundation. “With some of our biggest battles still ahead of us, it is crucial that institutions continue to demonstrate that the march toward full equality is not slowing down.”
