CANANDAIGUA - Today, UR Medicine Thompson Health announced its “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).
The designation was awarded in the 16th iteration of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), released earlier this month. A record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring process. Of those participants, 462 received the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer” designation.
“For many years, Thompson has made a concerted effort to be a place where all patients, residents, visitors and associates feel welcome,” said Thompson Health Vice President of Associate Services/Wellness Jennifer DeVault. “As we continue to find ways to make our health system even more welcoming, we appreciate the guidance of the HRC, and we are proud to have received this distinction.”
DeVault said Thompson offers “Safe Space” training to its associates, has a contingent in Rochester’s Pride Parade and is a sponsor of the FLX Pride Festival. Other initiatives have included dedicating a page on the health system’s website to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, listing several available resources.
According to Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the HEI helps people find facilities where welcoming policies and practices are standard.
“We know that LGBTQ+ people – especially our trans family – continue to face discrimination in the doctor’s office. No one should have to put their health on the backburner for fear of mistreatment in a healthcare facility or by their doctor,” Robinson said.
The HRC noted this year’s HEI comes as a Kaiser Family Foundation study finds LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to have been “treated unfairly or with disrespect by a doctor or healthcare provider” in the last three years.