Three San Antonio medical facilities have been been named Healthcare Leaders in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2016 Healthcare Equality Index.
The three hospitals, Metropolitan Methodist Hospital, Reproductive Medicine Associates of Texas and VA South Texas Health Care System, all received perfect scores on HRC’s index. A total of 496 medical facilities across the nation received the HEI Healthcare Leader designation.
VA South Texas Health Care System
The lowest scores in San Antonio went to the Nix Healthcare System and Southwest General Hospital. A total of 12 medical facilities in San Antonio participated in the survey.
The other participants were: Baptist Medical Center, Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospital – Northwest, Methodist Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital, Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, Northeast Baptist Hospital and University Health System.
According to HRC, “The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBT benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBT patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2016 evaluates a total of 2,061 healthcare facilities nationwide.”
Reproductive Medicine Associates of Texas
Participating facilities were rated on four “core” criteria:
1. Patient Non-Discrimination
1a – Patient non-discrimination policy (or patients’ bill of rights) is fully LGBT inclusive and includes both the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”
1b – LGBT-inclusive patient non-discrimination policy is communicated to patients in at least two readily accessible ways
2. Equal Visitation
2a – Visitation policy explicitly grants equal visitation to LGBT patients and visitors
2b – Equal visitation policy is communicated to patients and visitors in at least two readily accessible ways
3. Employment Non-Discrimination
3a – Employment non-discrimination policy (or equal employment opportunity policy) is fully LGBT inclusive and includes both the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”
3b – LGBT-inclusive employment non-discrimination policy is communicated publicly in at least one way
4. Training in LGBT Patient-Centered Care
HEI approved training in LGBT patient-centered care was provided to key staff members in 2016
“Despite all the progress we’ve made, far too many LGBT people still lack inclusive and affirming health care. Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality are helping to change that, and, in the process, making the lives of LGBT patients and their families better each and every day,” said HRC President Chad Griffin in a statement.
