Indianapolis, April 4, 2022 – The Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health downtown campus have been recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.

This is the seventh time Eskenazi Health has earned this distinction. These findings were a result of an annual survey conducted by the HRC Foundation. The survey evaluates inclusive policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.

Eskenazi Health is one of two health care systems in Indiana receiving top recognition by the HRC. A record 906 health care facilities actively participated in the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) 2022 survey. Of those included in the HEI, 496 earned an “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.

“Every person deserves to have access to quality health care, be respected and heard by their doctor, and feel safe in the facility where they are receiving care. But LGBTQ+ people are often subject to discrimination in all spaces, including health care facilities, which leads to members of the community avoiding care and anticipating our voices will not be respected in an incredibly vulnerable environment,” said Tari Hanneman, director of Health & Aging at The Human Rights Campaign. “The Healthcare Equality Index, at its core, strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their health care providers and feel safe seeking services. Our HEI active participants are truly pioneering the health care industry by implementing robust, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that hopefully, because of their work, will become standard practice.”

Now in its 15th year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s HEI continues to show incredible growth in the number of health care institutions that are embracing and adopting LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and practices.

In 2016, the Eskenazi Health Gender Health Program began serving patients and provides primary care services for adult transgender patients – both male and female. The staff includes primary care physicians, surgeons, licensed practical nurses, social workers and patient care coordinators. Eskenazi Health is also 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 2022, or to download a free copy of the report, please click here.

The HRC Foundation is the education arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ+ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.