St. Louis, MO – September 2, 2020 – St. Louis Children’s has been named a “Top Performer” in healthcare equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The recognition was outlined in the announcement of HRC’s 13th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), released this week.
A record 765 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2020 Survey. St. Louis Children’s was the region’s only children’s hospital to have participated and been scored by this year’s HEI.
“We’re proud to receive this honor, and we’re committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for LGBTQ patients, families and staff,” said Trish Lollo, St. Louis Children’s president. “Our mission is to do what’s right for kids and their families. That means doing what’s right for every individual, regardless of race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation or income level.”
The Equality Index serves as a national benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities' policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. The index assesses participants on four criteria:
- Ensure foundational non-discrimination protection for patients, visitors and staff in patient and staff policies 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
St. Louis Children’s, along with all facilities within BJC HealthCare, are committed to providing inclusive and equitable care to all patients, visitors and employees, including gender and sexual minorities. Below are examples of how St. Louis Children’s works to provide this level of care and service:
Patients and Visitors
- Established a visitation policy that allows patients and families the visitors of their choice, greatly reducing the potential for bias against LGBTQ family members and couples.
- Offers care through a Transgender Center to children and young adults who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary or genderqueer.
- Offers employees quality training on LGBTQ patient-centered care in an effort to create equitable patient and family experiences.
- Promotes engagement of physician partners on local legislative issues pertinent to LGBTQ patients and families.
Employees
- In 2015, BJC HealthCare began offering trans-inclusive benefits to all employees, including gender affirmation treatments and procedures.
- Employees, including nurses and patient access, are trained in and have access to sexual orientation and gender identity data collection and LGBTQ health care best practices.
- SPECTRA, the BJC HealthCare Connections group (open to all LGBTQ employees and allies), has experienced a significant growth and increased involvement and participation in St. Louis Pridefest festivities and other LGBTQ activities and events in the St. Louis region.
# # #
About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the education arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
About St. Louis Children’s Hospital
For more than 140 years, St. Louis Children's Hospital has provided exceptional care for children in all 50 states and 80 countries around the world. With its academic partner, Washington University School of Medicine, Children’s is consistently ranked among the nation’s best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. A member of BJC HealthCare, St. Louis Children’s Hospital follows one simple mission – to do what’s right for kids. That mission comes to life through medical discovery, innovative therapies and compassionate care. In 2018, Children's expanded with a state-of-the-art, 12-story medical tower. Children’s relies on generous donations to deliver specialized care for families in need, extend health care services to the community, and pursue research that promises to transform pediatric medicine. To find out more, visit StLouisChildrens.org, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.