Nineteen facilities within Sutter Health’s integrated, not-for-profit network earned the designation of 2022-2023 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leaders from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, publishers of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). This two-year designation recognizes healthcare providers who uphold policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.
The HEI survey serves to evaluate and score healthcare facilities on detailed criteria including foundational policies and training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care; LGBTQ+ patient services and support; employee benefits and policies, as well as patient and community engagement.
“Our ongoing commitment is to provide compassionate, high-quality care to all that is free from discrimination and affirms gender identity and sexual orientation. We are equally dedicated to nurturing a work environment where our employees and clinicians can reach their full potential,” said Jill Ragsdale, Sutter Health’s chief people & culture officer.
The 19 Sutter facilities earning a spot on the 2022-2023 HEI Index include:
Sutter patients Beth Reed and Lolma Olson are accompanied by members of Marin County’s The Spahr Center and Novato Community Hospital staff and leadership for a Pride flag-raising ceremony at the hospital, December 2022.
- Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
- California Pacific Medical Center
- Eden Medical Center
- Memorial Medical Center
- Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
- Novato Community Hospital
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation
- Sutter Amador Hospital
- Sutter Coast Hospital
- Sutter Davis Hospital
- Sutter Delta Medical Center
- Sutter Lakeside Hospital
- Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center of Santa Cruz
- Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
- Sutter Medical Foundation
- Sutter Roseville Medical Center
- Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
- Sutter Solano Medical Center
- Sutter Tracy Community Hospital
Those recognized in Sutter’s network join a select group of healthcare facilities nationwide that received the top score of 100 points. Only 496 healthcare providers nationwide earned the 2022-2023 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader distinction.
“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.”
For more information about the HEI, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/hei.
