For the 5th Consecutive Year, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Named a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality
For the fifth consecutive year, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality,” having received the top score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).
The HEI is a benchmarking tool that evaluates more than 1,600 healthcare facilities' policies and practices related to LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. The report is an important resource for LGBTQ patients, and their families, as they select healthcare facilities with demonstrated commitment to providing equitable and inclusive care.
Western Psychiatric Hospital and other facilities awarded this title met criteria in four key areas: LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ patient services and support, employee benefits and policies; and LGBTQ patient and community engagement.
This year, the scoring criteria included a higher benchmark for the top score, requiring participating facilities to demonstrate that they offered at least one company-wide health insurance plan that affirmatively provides transgender-inclusive coverage.
“Our journey over the past five years has led to an increased awareness of the diverse needs of the LGBTQ community, both among those who seek care at WPH and those who are part of our workforce,” said Carol VanZile, Director, BH Regulatory Compliance Accreditation.
“We were the first UPMC hospital to receive the HEI leader designation and five years later, providing a safe and respectful experience for our patients and staff remains critically important to us. We have made tremendous strides: In August, our LGBTQ committee sponsored its first conference, Becoming a Trans Knowledgeable Provider, which was a huge success, attended by more than 240 people. Soon we will be kicking off a community-led peer initiative with Trans Buddy PGH, which will provide support and guidance to transgender and non-binary patients receiving care at our hospital. We know there is always more to do, and we maintain an unwavering commitment to providing LGBTQ patient-centered behavioral healthcare, as well as an inclusive work environment for our employees.”