UF Health Jacksonville has been recognized for the third consecutive time for its outstanding dedication to equitable treatment and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community, earning a perfect score in the 2022 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Index released today by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
The HEI evaluates and scores health care facilities using 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.
UF Health Jacksonville received the maximum score in each section and earned an overall score of 100 and the designation of LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader.
“We’re fortunate to have faculty and staff that are incredibly dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care to everyone, including patients, visitors and fellow employees,” said Russ Armistead, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville. “This recognition underscores our commitment to cultivating a culture of inclusive excellence, and we’re grateful to the Human Rights Campaign for providing guidance so we can work to be the most welcoming health care asset in the region.”
A record 906 health care facilities actively participated in the 2022 survey, with 496 earning the leader designation. Another 251 facilities earned the “Top Performer” designation with scores between 80 and 95 points and at least partial credit in each section. With 82% of participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, health care facilities are demonstrating concretely that they are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ+ care.
“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.”