Health & Fitness
UMass Memorial Health Earns LGBTQ+ Inclusive Care Recognition
The Worcester-based health system has earned top national recognition.
WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester-based health system has earned top national recognition for LGBTQ+-inclusive care from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
UMass Memorial Health was named an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader in the foundation’s 2026 Healthcare Equality Index, the highest distinction in the national benchmarking report for LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity practices in health care, the health system announced Friday.
“Recognition as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader reflects our deep and ongoing commitment to delivering equitable care for every patient we serve,” UMass Memorial Health President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson said. “We are proud to create an environment where individuals feel respected and supported at every point in their care journey.”
UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts, with more than 20,000 caregivers and 2,400 physicians, the group said.
The system includes UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional, UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink and UMass Memorial Medical Group.
The Healthcare Equality Index is released every two years by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the national LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.
Health systems are evaluated across four areas: inclusive patient care and support, employee benefits and workplace inclusion, education and training and community engagement and outreach.
UMass Memorial Health said its inclusion efforts include honoring patients’ names and pronouns, improving collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data and ensuring access to LGBTQ+-affirming services and coordinated care. The system also cited inclusive workplace policies and benefits, systemwide nondiscrimination protections and ongoing staff education.
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