In celebration of National Pride Month in June, Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center announced it has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).

“We are deeply honored to receive this award during Pride Month, a time when we celebrate diversity and reaffirm our commitment to inclusivity. As a mission-driven organization committed to health equity, we prioritize providing everyone with a welcoming and safe environment to receive quality care,” said Jill Welton, Hospital president. “This recognition from HEI is a testament to the dedication of our compassionate care teams, who are committed to helping make sure that our LGBTQ+ patients feel welcome, heard and safe in our care sites every day.”

The HEI is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI evaluates and scores on detailed criteria falling under five central pillars: non-discrimination and staff training; patient services and support; employee benefits and policies; patient and community engagement; responsible citizenship.

In the 2024 report, a record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring process. Of those participants, 384 received the top score of 100, earning the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader designation. LGBTQ+ patients have historically faced significant and long-standing challenges to accessing the care they need, and Glendale Memorial Hospital is committed to providing welcoming, compassionate care for LGBTQ+ patients and their families. There is a legacy of responding with urgency to the AIDS epidemic, supporting LGBTQ+ causes, expanding services for these patients and the commitment to equity and inclusion in order to provide everyone with a welcoming and safe environment to receive care.

As part of the HEI process, Glendale Memorial Hospital underwent a comprehensive review of LGBTQ+ care policies and practices within the organization. For more information about Glendale Memorial’s commitment to LGBTQ+ care, visit dignityhealth.org/glendalememorial.