Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Earns Recognition as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality

Posted on Mar 27, 2018

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center has earned recognition as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization. The annual survey, conducted by Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), recognizes facilities that meet key criteria, including foundational elements of LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and LGBTQ patient and community engagement.

Chuck Prosper, CEO, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

“The amazing caregivers at Alta Bates Summit create a compassionate and inclusive healing environment for our LGBT patients, their families and friends,” says Chuck Prosper, CEO, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. “We value diversity and inclusiveness, providing the utmost respect and sensitivity to all whom we serve.”

The 21 Sutter Health affiliates within Sutter Health’s not-for-profit network earning a spot on the 2018 HEI Index include:

“Providing a welcoming, supportive environment for every one of our patients, employees and physicians is at the heart of everything we do,” says Jill Ragsdale, Sutter Health’s chief people and culture officer. “It’s a great honor to receive this recognition that shows our steadfast commitment to continually enhance our care for the LGBTQ community.”

The 21 Sutter Health network affiliates recognized join a select group of healthcare facilities nationwide named as Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality. A record 626 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2018 survey. In addition, the HRC Foundation proactively researched key policies at more than 900 non-participating hospitals.

“With some of our biggest battles still ahead of us, it is crucial that institutions continue to demonstrate that the march toward full equality is not slowing down,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The 626 participants in this year’s HEI continue this march in partnership with the LGBTQ community and we commend them for their leadership. For over a decade, the HEI has been the roadmap to closing the gap in ensuring equal care to LGBTQ patients and their families, and we urge every healthcare facility to join us in this continuing effort to provide inclusive care to all.”

For more information about the HEI, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/hei.