First time all Catholic Health hospitals named 'LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer'

Listed in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Healthcare Equality Index

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, Sisters of Charity Hospital, Kenmore Mercy Hospital and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital have all been named a “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 15th anniversary edition of its Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). This is the first time all of Catholic Health’s hospitals have received this recognition as part of the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of health care facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.

“It’s important for our system to provide a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all who seek care in our hospitals, health centers, skilled nursing faculties, and in their homes, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said William B. Pryor, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Catholic Health. “Our Catholic identity compels us to treat everyone with respect and dignity. This includes offering safe, high-quality, and compassionate care to all; providing a safe workplace for people to be who they are; and ensuring our patient and employment policies are nondiscriminatory.”

Tari Hanneman, director of health & aging at The Human Rights Campaign, said, “Every person deserves to have access to quality health care, 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 health care facilities, which leads to members of the community avoiding care and anticipating our voices will not be respected in an incredibly vulnerable environment. The Healthcare Equality Index, at its core, strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their health-care providers, and feel safe seeking services.”

The HEI evaluates and scores health care facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars, including foundational policies and training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care, LGBTQ+ patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement.

“We continue to focus our efforts on greater diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our system,” Pryor added. “We are extremely proud all our hospitals have been named LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performers and what this means to our patients and associates.”

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. 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.