For the fourth time, UAB Medicine is recognized for excellence in equity and diversity by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.For the fourth time since 2016, UAB Medicine has received the LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. UAB Medicine has previously been recognized with the same designation in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Following designation in 2019 as a top performer, UAB Medicine once again earned leadership designation for 2020/2021, which is now bestowed every two years.
“The Healthcare Equality Leader designation was due in part by the adoption of health insurance policies that were more inclusive for the LGBTQ employee population, as well as the continued adoption of best practices for an inclusive place of patient care and employment,” said Dawson Smith, vice president for Affiliate Operations and Network Development.
For the most recent survey period, 765 facilities participated, with 495 being recognized as leaders. In the state of Alabama, UAB Medicine leads the way, and was the only non-governmental health care organization recognized as a leader. The Veterans Affairs hospitals in Birmingham, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa were also recognized.
Each survey period, participants are given a numerical score based on their LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices in four domains, with UAB Medicine garnering the maximum score of 100:
- LGBTQ-inclusive policies for patients and employees, as well as 25-plus hours of annual training
- LGBTQ patient services and support
- LGBTQ employee benefits and policies
- LGBTQ patient and community engagement
Key initiatives from UAB Medicine:
- Newly established one-of-a-kind Gender Health Clinic in the Southeast specifically designed for transgender patients. Services include hormone replacement therapy, gender affirming surgeries, primary care and mental health.
- Health insurance that provides coverage for transgender-specific care for transgender employees
- Provider directory that makes it easy for LGBTQ patients to find a provider who caters to LGBTQ-related care issues
- More than 150 hours in employee trainings related to LGBTQ topics
- Record turnout from LGBTQ employees and Allies at the annual Birmingham Pride Parade hosted in June of 2019
- Electronic health record with the ability to capture sexual orientation and gender identity
- Multiple leaders in administration that identify as LGBTQ
- Patient and employee satisfaction surveys that allow individuals to self-identify as LGBTQ in order to collect more actionable data