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Penn Medicine centers recognized for efforts toward LGBT health care equality
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The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Chester County Hospital were among the 2015 class of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s “Leader in LGBT Health care Equality” list, highlighting their efforts to provide equal care for LGBT patients.
“This is a major honor for our health system and reflects our commitment to advancing LGBT patient care, research, and education on our medical campus and beyond,” Baligh Yehia, MD, MPP, MSHP, director of the Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health, said in a press release. “We hope that our efforts send a ripple effect into our communities and other centers and help change conversations and actions around LGBT health.”
Baligh Yehia
Health care equality leaders were chosen based on an annual survey identifying health care facilities that evaluated policies and practices related to LGBT patients, visitors and employees in an effort to provide equal care for LGBT patients.
Penn Medicine hospitals met nondiscrimination and training criteria that showed commitment to equitable and inclusive care for LGBT patients and their families by standardizing their patient and employee nondiscrimination policies to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression and providing LGBT patient care training for staff.
Chad Griffin
Efforts across the recognized Penn Medicine Hospitals were led by the Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health.
“Despite all the progress we’ve made, far too many LGBT people still lack inclusive and affirming health care,” Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in the release. “Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality are helping to change that, and, in the process, making the lives of LGBT patients and their families better each and every day. LGBT people have a right to be treated equally in all aspects of their lives, and [the Human Rights Campaign] celebrates Penn Medicine for its tireless work to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients.”