News at UI Health

The University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics has again been nationally recognized for its inclusive healthcare and policies related to LGBTQ patients, visitors, and employees.

UI Health was named a "Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality" by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2018 Health Equality Index (HEI), an annual survey that evaluates health systems on key criteria for non-discrimination policies and practices. This is the sixth consecutive year that UI Health has received this designation.

This year marks the second year that participants have been given a numerical score based on their LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. HEI participants are assessed on four criteria:

• LGBTQ Patient-Centered Care
• LGBTQ Patient Services and Support
• Employee Benefits and Policies
• LGBTQ Patient and Community Engagement

This year, 418 of the more 1,600 HEI-evaluated health facilities were named Healthcare Equality Leaders, receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100. UI Health is one of just 10 Illinois hospitals to be named a Healthcare Equality Leader for 2018.

With 82 percent of participating facilities scoring 80-95 points - earning a "Top Performer" designation - healthcare facilities are demonstrating concretely that they are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ care.

The "Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality" designation allows health facilities to affirm they comply with federal standards on LGBTQ healthcare equity and are committed to LGBTQ-inclusive, patient-centered care.

The HEI survey found that 56 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual patients and 70 percent of transgender or gender-nonconforming patients have experienced some type of discrimination in their healthcare. The Health Equality Index allows LGBTQ patients and their loved ones to find facilities that provide equitable and inclusive care.

The remarkable progress reflected in the 2018 HEI includes:

• 59 percent increase in hospitals that have written gender transition guidelines
• 42 percent increase in hospitals that offer trans-inclusive benefits
• 21 percent increase in the number of participants that have transgender-specific policies
• 63 percent increase in training hours recorded - clocking in at more than 70,000 hours of LGBTQ care training provided.

Overall, the "Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality" designation allows health facilities to affirm they comply with federal standards on LGBTQ healthcare equity and are committed to LGBTQ-inclusive, patient-centered care.