News at UI Health

The University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics has recognized as an "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader" by the Human Rights Campaign's 2022 Health Equality Index (HEI), an annual survey that evaluates health systems on key criteria for non-discrimination policies and practices.

The annual survey - now in its 15th year - evaluates health systems on key criteria for non-discrimination policies and practices. This is the eighth year UI Health has been recognized by the HEI program.

A record 906 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2022 HEI survey and 496 of those earned an "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation. The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

• Foundational policies and training
• LGBTQ+ patient services and support
• Employee benefits and policies
• Patient and community engagement

UI Health achieved a perfect 100 score in the 2022 HEI.

In the 2022 report, an impressive 496 facilities earned HRC's "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation, receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100. Another 251 facilities earned the "Top Performer" designation with scores between 80 and 95 points and at least partial credit in each section. With 82% of participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, health care facilities are demonstrating concretely that they are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ+ care.

The remarkable progress reflected in the 2022 HEI includes: 

• 93% of participants met the HEI's training requirements, completing more than 200,000 hours of staff training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care.

• 82% of participating facilities earned either the Leader or Top Performer.

• 99% of HEI participants documented that they include both "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in their patient non-discrimination policy.

• 99% of HEI participants documented that they include both "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" in their employment nondiscrimination policy. 

• 81% of HEI participants offer transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits to their employees, up from 75% in 2019, which was the first year this it was required in order to obtain Leader status. 2020.

• A record 176 facilities, nearly 20% of all participants, participated in the HEI for the first time.

Overall, the HRC's "LGBTQ Health Care Equality" designations allow health facilities to affirm they comply with federal standards on LGBTQ healthcare equity and are committed to LGBTQ-inclusive, patient-centered care.