Human Rights Campaign cites Eskenazi Health with highly valued accolade for the fourth time

Indianapolis, Sept. 19, 2019 – The Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health campus has been recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational branch of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. 

The findings were part of HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index 2019, a unique annual survey that encourages equal care for LGBTQ Americans by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees.

Eskenazi Health is one of only two health care systems in Indianapolis receiving top recognition by the HRC. The other is the VA Richard L. Roudebush Medical Center.

Eskenazi Health earned high marks in patient non-discrimination, equal visitation, employment non-discrimination, training in LGBTQ patient centered care, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies and patient and community engagement. 

Eskenazi Health is one of a select group of 406 health care facilities nationwide to be named Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality. Facilities awarded this title meet key criteria, including non-discrimination and staff training, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement.

“The health care facilities that participate in HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index are making clear that they stand on the side of fairness and are committed to providing inclusive care to their LGBTQ patients,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Going beyond inclusive non-discrimination policies, these health care facilities are adopting best practices in the areas of LGBTQ patient care and support, employee policies and benefits, and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. We commend all of the HEI participants for their commitment to providing inclusive care for all.”

In 2016, the Eskenazi Health Transgender Health & Wellness Program began serving patients and provides primary care services for adult transgender patients – both male and female. The staff includes primary care physicians, surgeon, licensed practical nurse (LPN), social worker and patient care coordinator.

The Healthcare Equality Index offers health care facilities unique and powerful resources designed to help provide equal care to a long-overlooked group of patients, as well as assistance in complying with regulatory requirements and access to high-quality staff training.

This is the fourth time that the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health have earned top honors on the LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Index, which evaluates institutions for inclusive policies and practices related to LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. Eskenazi Health is an annual participant in the Circle City IN Pride parade and festival and other events celebrating diversity and inclusion.

For more information about the Healthcare Equality Index 2019, or to download a free copy of the report, please visit https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/CEI-2019-FullReport.pdf?_ga=2.80777681.73347760.1565988508-882471932.1565988508

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For 160 years, Eskenazi Health has provided high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care to Central Indiana. Accredited by The Joint Commission, nationally recognized programs include a Level I trauma center, regional burn center, comprehensive senior care program, women’s and children’s services, teen and adolescent care programs, Lifestyle Health & Wellness Center, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, and a network of primary care sites located throughout the neighborhoods of Indianapolis known as Eskenazi Health Center. In partnership with the Regenstrief Institute, Eskenazi Health conducts groundbreaking work that informs health information technology around the globe. Eskenazi Health also serves as the sponsoring hospital for Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services. As the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County (HHC), Eskenazi Health partners with the Indiana University School of Medicine whose physicians provide a comprehensive range of primary and specialty care services. In 2013, the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital opened, providing a new modern and efficient facility and becoming Central Indiana’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold health care campus. Eskenazi Health has been named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare” for the past four consecutive years. 


Media Contact: Tom Surber 
Phone: 317.880.4793
Cell: 317.402.9327
Email: thomas.surber@eskenazihealth.edu