GBMC Earns Healthcare Equality Index Recognition

For the second year in a row, GBMC has earned recognition as a leader in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) healthcare equality by the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). This acknowledgement reinforces GBMC’s strides in HEI’s stringent core four leader criteria, which follow:

1. Patient Non-Discrimination: GBMC’s Patient Bill of Rights is fully LGBT-inclusive and includes both the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” The organization’s Patient Bill of Rights states that all patients have the right to “Receive considerate, respectful and compassionate care regardless of your age, gender, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or disabilities. Additionally, GBMC meets the requirement that the LGBT-inclusive patient non-discrimination policy is communicated to patients in at least two readily accessible ways.

2. Equal Visitation: GBMC’s visitation policy explicitly grants equal visitation to LGBT patients and visitors. This policy is communicated to patients and visitors in at least two readily accessible ways and states: “Whenever possible, GBMC supports our patients having a family member, friend, a domestic partner, including same-sex domestic partner or other individual present for emotional support during the course of the stay.”

3. Employment Non-Discrimination: GBMC’s employment non-discrimination policy (equal employment opportunity policy) is fully LGBT-inclusive and includes both the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

4. Training in LGBT Patient-Centered Care: HEI-approved training in LGBT patient-centered care has been provided to key staff members.

GBMC is proud to have met the criteria and sub-criteria in all four categories! For more information about HEI, visit www.hrc.org/hei.