Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) for the second straight year.
Wake Forest Baptist received the designation in the 11th annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) produced by the HRC, the nation’s largest advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights.
“We are honored to be recognized as a leader by the Human Rights Campaign and are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity for all of our patients, families and colleagues,” said David McIntosh, Ph.D., vice president and chief inclusion and diversity officer at Wake Forest Baptist.
The index grades health care institutions on four criteria: patient services and support; non-discrimination and staff training; employee benefits and policies; and patient and community engagement.
This year, 626 health care facilities nationwide participated in the HEI survey. Wake Forest Baptist was among the 438 institutions to earn Healthcare Equality Leader status.
With 24 LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leaders, North Carolina tied with Ohio for third-most in the country, behind only California (83) and New York (77).
The HEI was established in 2007 to meet the need for knowledgeable, equitable, sensitive and welcoming health care for members of the LGBTQ community without fear of discrimination, refusal of care or variation in normal care procedures due to ignorance.
Detailed information about the 2018 Healthcare Equality Index is available online at hrc.org/hei.
Media Relations
Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273
Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228