Five Banner hospitals have earned the “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees.
Banner Health hospitals that earned the Top Performer designation include:
• Banner Behavioral Health Hospital
• Banner Desert Medical Center
• Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix
• Banner – University Medical Center South
• Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
“Banner Health is extremely pleased to have achieved “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer” designation at five of its hospitals; more so, we are proud of our health care teams who work to ensure an inclusive environment for all within their hospital walls,” said Jackie Hunter, DC, MHA, sr. director of diversity/inclusion and talent pipeline at Banner Health.
The HEI 2020 evaluated more than 1,700 healthcare facilities nationwide and a record 765 health care facilities actively participated in the survey. Of those included in the HEI, 193 facilities earned the “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer” designation scoring from 80 to 95 points. A total of 495 facilities earned HRC’s “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation, receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100.
“The health care facilities participating in the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) are not only on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also making it clear from their participation in the HEI that they stand on the side of fairness and are committed to providing inclusive care to their LGBTQ patients. We commend all of the HEI participants for their commitment to providing inclusive care for all,” said HRC President Alphonso David.
The public can visit the HRC website to search for inclusive health care facilities near their city, state or zip code.
