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United Spinal Association Hospital Members Earn LGBTQ+ HEI Leader Designation

Text box says LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality LeaderThe Human Rights Campaign recently released its 2022 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Index leaders list. This year, 14 United Spinal Association’s hospital members or members of their parent organizations were recognized, a number that is over three times greater than in previous years.

“The Healthcare Equality Index strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their healthcare providers and feel safe seeking services,” says Tari Hanneman, Director of Health & Aging at HRC. “Our HEI active participants are truly pioneering the healthcare industry by implementing robust, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that hopefully will become standard practice.”

“United Spinal Association is committed to ensuring all people with disabilities have access to healthcare services from providers they feel comfortable with, including LGBTQ+ wheelchair users,” says Abby Ross, Chief Operating Officer of United Spinal Association. “Our hospital members are among the best in the world at serving wheelchair users, and we are pleased to see so many of them received the highest score on the Healthcare Equality Index.”

HRC evaluated more than 2,200 health care facilities to determine how well their policies and practices serve LGBTQ people. A record 906 of those actively participated in HRC’s survey, and 496 scored 100% to earn the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.

Over 80 percent of all the healthcare facilities that participated in the survey earned either the Leader or Top Performer designation. The facilities were graded based on factors like hours of training, quality of benefits and policies, and patient and community participation.

The United Spinal Association hospital members or their parent organizations who scored 100% and are recognized as HEI leaders include:

Alabama:
University of Alabama at Birmingham

California:
Northridge Hospital Medical Center
Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center

Connecticut:
Hartford HealthCare Community Network

Illinois:
Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital

New Jersey:
HMH JFK Medical Center

New York:
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester

Washington, D.C.:
Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital

Oregon:
Legacy Health

Pennsylvania:
UPMC

Tennessee:
Vanderbilt Hospital and Clinics

Utah:
University of Utah Hospital

Wisconsin:
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

United Spinal Association is committed to supporting all wheelchair users to live their authentic lives. Join our community by signing up for a free membership. To support our mission, donate here.