Mercy Hospital of Buffalo has been named a “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Top Performer” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) for its dedication to the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) employees, patients and visitors. The designation was awarded in the HRC’s 13th annual Healthcare Quality Index report, which rates healthcare facilities across the country on their policies and practices in LGBTQ care.
Among the criteria used to evaluate Health Care Equality Top Performers are an assessment of staff training in LGBTQ patient-centered care; a review of patient and employment nondiscrimination policies; a look at employee benefits and policies, and an evaluation of the facilities’ procedures and practices aimed at eliminating bias and insensitivity.
“As a Catholic Health hospital, it is our mission to treat all people equally with reverence, compassion, justice and excellence,” said Mercy Hospital President Eddie Bratko. “We are proud that the HRC has recognized our efforts to ensure that our LGBTQ community feels welcome in our facility and free of any form of discrimination or bias as a patient, visitor or staff member.”
For more information about the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, visit www.hrc.org , or to review or download a free copy of the report, visit Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).