Upcoming EventsMontefiore Nyack Hospital is one of 462 healthcare providers nationwide to receive the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation.
Nyack, NY, May 7, 2024 - Montefiore Nyack Hospital has received an evaluation of 95 out of 100 earning the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 17th-anniversary edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. A record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2024 HEI survey and 462 of those earned an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation.
“At Montefiore Nyack, we are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all of our patients,” said Mark E. Geller, M.D., F.A.C.R., President & CEO of Montefiore Nyack Hospital. We are proud that our efforts on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community have been recognized with this distinction from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Our dedication to providing a safe and inclusive environment within the Hospital also extends to our community services offered at The Jacobs Family Pride Wellness Center.”
The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), a project of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, promotes LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and affirming practices in healthcare facilities and formally recognizes those facilities that lead the field in LGBTQ+ inclusion. −more−
HRC recognizes there are many steps on the journey toward full LGBTQ+ inclusion and the HEI provides tools and resources to help healthcare facilities implement policies and affirming practices. Participating healthcare facilities are recognized in one of three Tiers of Recognition on this journey. This recognition enhances a healthcare facility’s efforts to establish a track record of LGBTQ+ inclusion and aids in building and maintaining meaningful relationships with LGBTQ+ communities in their area.
The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:
• Ensure foundational non-discrimination protection for patients, visitors and staff via policy implementation and provide cultural competency training on LGBTQ+ inclusion
• Demonstrate progress toward inclusion on LGBTQ+ patient care services and support
• Cultivate an inclusive workplace by providing LGBTQ+ inclusive employee policies and benefits
• Demonstrate engagement with and public commitment to the LGBTQ+ community
“Every person deserves to have access to quality healthcare, be respected and heard by their doctor, and feel safe in the facility where they are receiving care.
But LGBTQ+ people are often subject to discrimination in all spaces, including healthcare facilities, which leads to members of the community avoiding care and anticipating our voices will not be respected in an incredibly vulnerable environment,” said Tari Hanneman, Director of Health & Aging at The Human Rights Campaign. “The Healthcare Equality Index, at its core, strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their healthcare providers and feel safe seeking services.”
In the 2024 report, an impressive 384 facilities earned HRC’s “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader'' designation, receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100. Another 462 facilities earned the “High Performer” designation with scores between 80 to 95 points and at least partial credit in each section. With 82% of participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, healthcare facilities are demonstrating concretely that they are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ+ care. −more−
Key highlights from the report include:
Targeted Health Disparities Reduction Plans: Encouragingly, 71% have an official plan for reducing health disparities that specifically includes LGBTQ+ patients in addition to race, ethnicity, and linguistic concerns.
Work to Be Done: Only 27% have an externally promoted specific program to provide patient navigation or advocacy services to transgender patients.
Bias Elimination and Welcoming Interactions: Just over half (53%) have a policy or policies that specifically outline procedures and practices aimed at eliminating bias and insensitivity, and ensuring appropriate, welcoming interactions with transgender patients.
EHR SOGI Data: Major increases are seen in the number of healthcare facilities collecting sexual orientation and gender identity-related data in their Electronic Health Records systems, which help to improve clinical care and outcomes for LGBTQ+ people. Seven of the eight relevant data points had double-digit increases.
Pronouns in Electronic Health Records: The ability to collect and display a patient’s pronouns rose from 44% to 74%. This is an important tool to help prevent misgendering a patient.
FMLA-Equivalent Benefits: 38% offer FMLA-equivalent benefits that allow employees to take family and medical leave to care for same-sex partners as well as the children of a same-sex partner, regardless of biological or adoptive status – this is up from 34% in 2022.
Comprehensive Benefits for Domestic Partners: 41% provide medical and comprehensive health benefits to domestic partners of benefits-eligible employees up from 34% in 2022. This is the first increase in this measure since the 2015 Obergefell decision on same-sex marriage.
Employee Resource Groups: 72% have an officially recognized LGBTQ+ employee resource group.
Community Engagement and Support: 92% took part in or supported one or more LGBTQ+-related events or initiatives in their service area.
The HEI is a project of the Health & Aging Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. In addition to the HEI, the Health & Aging Program also operates the Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI) in partnership with SAGE. The Health & Aging Program researches, develops, and advocates for LGBTQ+ health and aging initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels, and provides support to institutions seeking to enhance LGBTQ+ well-being via education, policy, research, and technical assistance.
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About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.
About Montefiore Nyack Hospital
Montefiore Nyack Hospital is a 391-bed community acute care medical and surgical hospital that was founded in 1895 and is in Rockland County, NY. Its mission is to provide competent, innovative and accessible emergency and acute care services to the residents of Rockland County and surrounding areas. It is a member of Montefiore Health System and a partner with Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, providing clinical rotations to medical students. To learn more visit www.montefiorenyack.org; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram; view us on YouTube.
