Sixteen health care facilities in New Jersey have been recognized as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the education unit of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.
The designations were released in the 11th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index.
“At a time when health care and the rights of LGBTQ people are under attack by the Trump-Pence administration and state legislatures across the country, hundreds of top healthcare facilities are driving progress toward equality,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.
“These top-scoring facilities are not only establishing policies that save LGBTQ lives every day, they have become vocal advocates for equality in the public square. This year, we are heartened to see corporate champions, including many healthcare systems, not just speaking out, but also doubling down on their commitment to equality.”
The following New Jersey-based health care facilities all earned a score of 100 by meeting criteria that demonstrated a commitment to equitable, inclusive and compassionate care for LGBTQ patients and their families.
- Overlook Medical Center, Summit;
- Valley Hospital, Ridgewood;
- Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Pains;
- Newton Medical Center, Newton;
- Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark;
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick and Somerset;
- Morristown Medical Center, Morristown;
- Goryeb Children’s Hospital, Morristown;
- Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch;
- Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston;
- Jersey City Medical Center, Jersey City;
- Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, Hackettstown;
- Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack;
- VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange;
- Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville;
- AtlanticCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City.
To earn the recognition, the health centers were ranked on five criteria from on the HEI, including non-discrimination and staff training, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, patient and community engagement, responsible citizenship, to come up with a total score out of 100.
626 health facilities participated in the HEI 2018 survey. Of the facilities survey, 418 earned a top score of 100.
“While the 2018 HEI shows a growing commitment across the nation to equitable and inclusive health care, it also illustrates work left to be done,” said Tari Hanneman, director of the HRC Foundation’s Health Equality Project, and author of the HEI. “And that work has never been more urgent, given the all-out assaults on the LGBTQ community from the highest levels of government.”
