About the HEI 2022

About the HEI 2022

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The Human Rights Campaign Foundation developed the Healthcare Equality Index to meet a deep and urgent need on the part of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans: the need for equitable, knowledgeable, sensitive and welcoming health care, free from discrimination.

Moving LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Forward

In its 15th year, the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities' policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2022 evaluates more than 2,200 healthcare facilities nationwide.

A record 906 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2022 survey.

496 Leaders

In the HEI 2022, 496 healthcare facilities achieved the coveted top score of 100 and earned the coveted "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation.

251 Top Performers

Another 251 facilities scored 80-95 points in the HEI 2020 and earned the designation of "LGBTQ+Healthcare Equality Top Performer."

82% of participating facilities earned a score of 80 or higher

The HEI 2022 implements four core objectives which are reflected in its criteria:

  • Ensure foundational protection for patients, visitors and staff in patient and staff policies and provide cultural competency training on LGBTQ+ inclusion
  • Demonstrate progress toward inclusion on LGBTQ+ patient care and support
  • Cultivate an inclusive workforce by providing LGBTQ+ inclusive employee support and benefits
  • Demonstrate public commitment to the LGBTQ+ community

Why Participate in the HEI?

Healthcare Facilities participate in the HEI so they can:

    • Learn best practices for LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion
    • Provide patient-centered care to a long-overlooked group
    • Enhance patient satisfaction ratings
    • Take advantage of free online, on-demand staff training from expert sources that includes CME/CEU credits
    • Ensure compliance with legal, CMS and The Joint Commission requirements
    • Enjoy recognition for commitment to equity, inclusion and diversity from the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization

In addition to being a valuable tool and resource for healthcare facilities, the HEI is used by LGBTQ+ patients and their loved ones to find facilities that provide equitable and inclusive care. The list of LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leaders is published in the HEI report and the ratings for each participating facility are available on our website and promoted to HRC’s more than 3 million supporters.

Consumers can easily search our online database or our interactive map to see how facilities near them rate — giving patients the ability to choose where they would like to receive care in their time of need. See more information by navigating to the HEI webpage on HRC.org.

Download

HEI 2022: Executive Summary

Download the HEI 2022: Executive Summary