Post submitted by Eva Kendrick, HRC Alabama State Manager
This August, HRC will host two lunch-and-learn opportunities for healthcare administrators across the state to learn more about participation in the Healthcare Equality Index 2017 survey. These events will be held in Birmingham on Wednesday, August 24, and Huntsville on Thursday, August 25.
The Healthcare Equality Index – an annual survey implemented by the HRC Foundation – is used by inpatient and outpatient healthcare organizations nationwide to strengthen the care they offer LGBTQ patients, as well as the support and protections offered to LGBTQ healthcare staff. Healthcare facilities participating in the 2017 HEI survey will be scored in four key areas of LGBTQ inclusion: Non-Discrimination and Staff Training, Patient Services and Support, Patient and Community Engagement and Employee Benefits and Policies. Facilities that score high by having a number of policies and best practices in place will be recognized as top performers and those that score 100 in the survey will receive the designation of Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, Cooper Green Mercy Health Services, Medical West Health Centers, and the VA Medical Centers in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery all achieved this key “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” status in the 2016 survey.
While these six medical centers represent incredible improvement in LGBTQ patient-centered care in Alabama, the fact that nearly fifty percent of LGBTQ Alabamians do not consider their doctor to be LGBTQ friendly while many more LGBTQ patients still face discrimination or harassment from healthcare providers and healthcare facility staff proves that recruiting more hospitals to participate in the 2017 HEI survey is a critical next step to ensuring fully-inclusive and competent healthcare for all Alabamians.
HRC’s August HEI Lunch-and-Learn series will be an opportunity for healthcare administrators to learn more about implementing LGBTQ patient-centered best practices through case studies offered by local healthcare administrators whose hospitals have participated in previous HEI surveys, as well as an opportunity to connect directly with Tari Hanneman, Director of HRC’s Health Equality Project. Registration for the lunch-and-learns is free with lunch included in each registration.
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