Lake County Health Department earns “LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality Leader” Designation
The Lake County Health Department joins 496 healthcare providers nationwide earning the designation in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index
Lake County, Ill. — The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is announcing their “LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 15th anniversary edition of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). A record 906 health care facilities actively participated in the HEI 2022 survey. Of those included in the HEI, 496 earned an “LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality Leader” designation, achieving the coveted top score of 100.
Another 251 participants earned the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” designation for a total score of between 80-95. The fact that 82% of participating facilities earned either the Leader or Top Performer designations demonstrates that the healthcare facilities that participate in the HEI are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ+ care.
“We are honored to once again be recognized with the highest achievement as a LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality Leader,” said Executive Director, Mark Pfister. “Maintaining inclusive care for Lake County’s LBTGQ+ community is and will always be a core part of our mission. All our healthcare facilities strive to provide a comfortable place where anyone can seek healthcare without the fear of being discriminated.”
“Every person deserves to have access to quality healthcare, be respected and heard by their doctor, and feel safe in the facility where they are receiving care. But LGBTQ+ people are often subject to discrimination in all spaces, including healthcare facilities, which leads to members of the community avoiding care and anticipating our voices will not be respected in an incredibly vulnerable environment,” said Tari Hanneman, Director of Health & Aging at The Human Rights Campaign. “The Healthcare Equality Index, at its core, strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their healthcare providers and feel safe seeking services. Our HEI active participants are truly pioneering the healthcare industry by implementing robust, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that hopefully, because of their work, will become standard practice.”
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation developed the Healthcare Equality Index to meet a deep and urgent need on the part of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans; the need for equitable, knowledgeable, sensitive, and welcoming health care, free from discrimination. No one facing health concerns should also have to worry about receiving inequitable or substandard care because of their LGBTQ+ status.
The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:
- Foundational Policies and Training in LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care;
- LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support;
- Employee Benefits and Policies; and,
- Patient and Community Engagement.
The exceptional progress reflected in the 2022 HEI includes:
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93% of participants met the HEI's training requirements, completing more than 200,000 hours of staff training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care.
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82% of participating facilities earned either the Leader or Top Performer.
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99% of HEI participants documented that they include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in their patient non-discrimination policy.
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99% of HEI participants documented that they include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in their employment nondiscrimination policy.
81% of HEI participants offer transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits to their employees, up from 75% in 2019, which was the first year this it was required in order to obtain Leader status. 2020.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.
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