University of Michigan Health-West announced its “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 16th iteration of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), released this week. A record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring process. Of those participants, 462 received the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation.
Thomas Pierce, University of Michigan Health Regional Network’s Health Equity & Inclusion director said the recognition demonstrates UM Health-West’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and health equity.
“We’re proud of our performance and committed to leading in DEI and LGBTQIA+ equity. Tools like the Human Rights Campaign’s Health Equity Index allow us to celebrate what we’re doing well to create spaces of inclusion and belonging for our LGBTQIA+ patients and employees and, more importantly, help us in identifying areas where we can improve.”
Pierce said the Top Performer recognition is a key step in UM Health-West’s ongoing journey toward enhanced equity and inclusion. “We hold ourselves to a high standard of accountability. It’s essential that LGBTQIA+ patients can visit a doctor without fear of being misgendered, misnamed or discriminated against.”
UM Health-West has implemented several initiatives to foster an inclusive environment, including LGBTQIA+ patient-centered care training, equal benefits for same-sex spouses, an expanded definition of family for equal visitation policies, and publicly posted resources for LGBTQIA+ patients. Additionally, sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data are collected during the confidential patient intake process to ensure a healthcare experience that is culturally competent and responsive to a patient’s individual needs.
This year’s HEI comes as LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to be “treated unfairly or with disrespect by a doctor or healthcare provider” in the last three years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation combined with a history of discrimination in healthcare settings has the potential to cause even more LGBTQ+ people to delay or avoid seeking healthcare, which makes the HEI even more salient for those looking to find LGBTQ+-inclusive care.
