Northwell Health Hospitals Recognized by LGBTQ Advocacy Group for Healthcare Equality

Northwell Health received high marks for LGBTQ inclusion in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2017 Healthcare Equality Index, a measure of a facility’s policies and practices toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer patients, employees and the community at large.

Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park and Staten Island University Hospital were recognized with the elite “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation.

In addition, 11 other Northwell facilities were named top performers among the 590 health care facilities nationwide that participated in the Healthcare Equality Index’s 10th annual survey: Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Glen Cove Hospital, Huntington Hospital, LIJ Forest Hills, LIJ Valley Stream, North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, Plainview Hospital, Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, Syosset Hospital and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

“Northwell Health’s participation and recognition in the HRC Healthcare Equality Index confirms our commitment to inclusion and highlights our goal of improving the health of all members of our diverse communities – inclusive of members of our population who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer,” said Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, senior vice president of Northwell Health’s Center for Equity of Care and the health system’s chief diversity and inclusion officer.

Northwell Health was one of nine health care systems nationwide to place at least 10 facilities on the latest list of top performers. New York State had 48 facilities recognized, second only to California. The Joint Commission required hospitals to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity beginning in 2011.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation measured health care facilities’ sensitivity to the LGBTQ community in four areas: patient-centered care, patient services and support, fully-inclusive employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement.

“Partnerships with LGBTQ organizations and communities are critical components in our journey to health equity and have enhanced our delivery of culturally sensitive, respectful and humanistic care,” said Dr. Mieres.

Northwell Health has developed partnerships with LGBTQ organizations at the local level, which allows the health system to work closely with both greater New York and Long Island LGBT communities. That relationship helps Northwell to connect those in the LGBTQ community with health care providers and additional resources that they need to live their healthiest lives.