Once again, Penn Medicine stands out as a beacon of LGBTQ+ healthcare excellence, earning recognition from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.
This accolade follows the achievement of perfect scores by six hospitals within the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) in the 2024 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), a nationwide assessment tool for LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practices in healthcare settings.
In its 16th year, the HEI evaluated 1,065 institutions, focusing on LGBTQ+ patient-centered care, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement.
Among the UPHS hospitals securing perfect scores of 100 points are the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, Princeton Health, and Pennsylvania Hospital.
Dr. Kevin Kline, an assistant professor of Family Medicine and Community Health in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the inaugural medical director for LGBTQ+ Health, expressed pride in the sustained recognition. He highlighted Penn Medicine’s unwavering dedication to delivering top-tier care to LGBTQ+ patients throughout the system.
The Healthcare Equality Index, managed by the Health & Aging Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, serves as a vital catalyst for advancing LGBTQ+ health and aging initiatives.
Through research, advocacy, and support, the program empowers institutions to bolster LGBTQ+ well-being through education, policy development, research, and technical assistance.