UChicago Medicine Identified as a Leader in LGBT Health Equality

The HRC Foundation, the educational arm of the country's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, released the list of hospital leaders in its Healthcare Equality Index 2016. The annual survey encourages equal care for LGBT Americans by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to LGBT patients, visitors and employees.

UChicago Medicine is one of 496 facilities – out of thousands operating nationwide – to earn the leaders designation. The South Side medical center, which includes Comer Children's Hospital, Mitchell Hospital, the Center for Care and Discovery and the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine, is one of 13 Illinois facilities to be added to HRC's 2016 roster. Twenty-five hospitals and medical centers in Illinois are on HRC's leaders list.

"Since 2014, we've logged nearly 1,000 hours of work to make sure we have an inclusive and welcoming environment that honors the diversity of gender identities and sexual orientations of our patients, visitors and employees," said Brenda Battle, RN, BSN, MBA, UChicago Medicine's vice president for care delivery innovation and chief diversity and inclusion officer. "I'm proud of the work we were able to do in such a short time with staff training and an exhaustive review of our processes. And I'm gratified we're joining with a growing number of health organizations that are committed to this important work."

UChicago Medicine earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients, and their families, who can face significant challenges in securing the quality health care and respect they deserve.

"Despite all the progress we've made, far too many LGBT people still lack inclusive and affirming health care," Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement. "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."