CANANDAIGUA – The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, recently released its 10th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), reflecting a decade of progress in LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare.

A record 590 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2017 HEI survey, committing to LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. In addition, the HRC Foundation proactively researched the key policies at more than 900 additional non-participating hospitals. Of facilities surveyed for the HEI, 303 earned HRC’s “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality ” designation and 144 – including UR Medicine’s Thompson Health – were deemed a “Top Performer in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.”

This year marks the first time the HEI has awarded numerical scores for their implementation of LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices in four
areas:

LGBTQ patient-centered care

LGBTQ patient services and support

Fully-inclusive employee benefits and policies

LGBTQ patient and community engagement

Three quarters of the healthcare facilities actively participating in the survey scored 80 points or above. Thompson scored 85 points, with “Top Performer” status going to those in the 80- to 95-point range.

“A commitment to serving our LGBTQ community has been a focus of Thompson Health for many years and will continue to be,” said Vice President of Associate Services and Wellness Jennifer DeVault. “We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make our associates, patients and visitors feel welcome, and we are grateful to the HRC for its guidance.”

For a full list of hospitals scored by the HRC, visit http://www.hrc.org/hei.

CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine’s Thompson Health is launching the 4Leaf Lifestyle Support Group for those interested in pursuing a whole foods/plant-based lifestyle.

The purpose of the group is to:

• Surround yourself with people who understand and support your goals since this directly increases your chances of long-term success
• Help each other through sharing of knowledge and experiences
• Offer resources, information and literature
  
  The group’s first meeting will be Tuesday, April 11, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the ground-floor conference rooms of the Constellation for Health and Healing at Thompson
  Hospital, 350 Parrish St. in Canandaigua. 
  
  No RSVP is required for meetings of this group, facilitated by Thompson’s Linda Rowsick, RD, CD-N. Please call (585) 396-6285 with any questions.
  
  

CANANDAIGUA – For the third consecutive year, UR Medicine’s Thompson Health is on the “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare” list published by Becker’s Hospital Review, and is the only health system in western or central New York to be included.

This list includes U.S. hospitals, health systems, ambulatory surgical centers and home health agencies as well as other types of healthcare-specific companies “committed to fulfilling missions, creating outstanding cultures and offering competitive benefits to their employees.” Hospitals of all sizes are included, with the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital among the larger ones.

CANANDAIGUA – UR Medicine’s Thompson Health announces a call for applications for the 2017 spring cycle of the Mary Clark Thompson Health Grants. All local not-for-profit organizations whose programs improve the health and wellness of the community within Thompson’s service area are encouraged to apply by April 1 for funding through this opportunity offered by the F.F. Thompson Foundation.

Mary Clark Thompson’s spirit of community-minded philanthropy was the...