May 19, 2008 Media contact: Shantell Kirkendoll
E-mail: smkirk@umich.edu
Phone: 734-764-2220

UMHS participates in first-of-its-kind Healthcare Equality Index

Nation’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights group rates hospitals for health care and non-discrimination policy for GLBT Americans

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan Health System has been included in a first-of-its-kind index that rates hospitals for standards of patient care for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest GLBT civil rights group, considers the report – the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) – a first step towards establishing a nationwide set of standards to reduce discrimination and ensure quality hospital-based health care.
 
“The UMHS Pride Network (the Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay Employee Resource and Patient Advocacy group) is proud of its partnership with the Health System in achieving these ratings in the Healthcare Equality Index,” said Kimber Converso, a cardiac sonographer and researcher at the University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center and chair of the Pride Network.
 
“We look forward to continued improvements in both the provision of quality medical care to the transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay communities, and creating an inclusive and supportive work environment,” Converso said on behalf of the Pride Network Executive Committee.
 
Since 2006, UMHS has offered Safe Zone training to hospital staff. The Safe Zones are expected to create an environment where patients are comfortable sharing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
 
The foundation surveyed 88 hospitals across the country and assessed them in five areas of policy and practice: patient non-discrimination, hospital visitation, decision making, cultural competency training and employment non-discrimination.
 
“By publishing the Healthcare Equality Index, we not only shine a light on the top performing hospitals, but also draw attention to prejudices that GLBT Americans must face during some of their most critical moments,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
 
The 2008 Healthcare Equality Index is available online in PDF format: www.hrc.org.

For more information about the UMHS Pride Network, visit www.med.umich.edu/pridenetwork.