Community-focused medical center one of only 384 U.S.
healthcare facilities to receive "LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality
Leader" honor; only facility in Atlanta to achieve Leader status
ATLANTA , May 7, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has awarded
AvitaCare Atlanta 100% on its 2024 Healthcare Equality Index
(HEI), securing it a coveted designation as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare
Equality Leader.
Now in its 16th year, the HEI is a national
benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities' policies
and practices regarding the equity and inclusion of LGBTQ+
patients, visitors, and employees. HEI survey participants are
scored across the following criteria areas:
- Foundational elements of non-discrimination policy
implementation and training
- Patient services and support
- Employee benefits and policies
- Patient and community engagement
- Responsible citizenship
An Avita Care Solutions company, AvitaCare Atlanta's medical
center and pharmacy partners with covered entity MedCura
Health to offer compassionate, comprehensive, and inclusive
primary and specialized care services to the greater Atlanta community, including gender-affirming
care, sexual wellness care, diabetes management, behavioral health,
comprehensive in-person and telehealth-based HIV prevention and
treatment programs, and more. Its award-winning staff of more than
70 team members is committed to breaking down health equity
barriers for LGBTQ+ patients by providing them with culturally
competent care in a welcoming and safe environment.
While this year's HEI survey engaged over 1,065 U.S. healthcare
facilities, only 36% received top marks. AvitaCare Atlanta's
dedication to providing LGBTQ+-affirming care earned it the
designation of LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader, reserved for
facilities that score 100% on the index.
Meeting a crucial need for LGBTQ+ health equity in the
Atlanta community
"There has never been a more critical time in the fight
for LGBTQ+ healthcare equality," Avita Care Solutions CEO
Michael Yount said. "To date in 2024
alone, over 500 bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights advanced through the
U.S. legislature, with more than 100 of them specifically
restricting the healthcare rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Thank
you to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for recognizing the
important work AvitaCare Atlanta and other organizations do by
offering compassionate and inclusive care to patients no matter how
they identify or whom they love."
AvitaCare Atlanta Medical Director Dr. Quintin Robinson, AAHIVS, seconded the need to
drive change in the healthcare sector by reducing stigma and bias
toward America's LGBTQ+ communities and commended his team for
continually breaking down these patient barriers. "Reports show
that one in five LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. put their healthcare
needs on hold to avoid the disrespect and discrimination they've
faced from some providers," he said. "The AvitaCare Atlanta team is
specifically trained to treat patients holistically, respectfully,
and without judgment. That means every patient. It's our
honor to offer LGBTQ+-affirming care to members of the Atlanta community."
While much work to be done, report shows marked progress
in LGBTQ+ healthcare equality
"As anti-LGBTQ+ extremists look to strip away healthcare
access at every turn, LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are
looking for healthcare providers to offer and champion fully
inclusive services. The Healthcare Equality Index is helping people
find facilities where welcoming policies and practices are the
standard," said Kelley Robinson,
president of the Human Rights Campaign. "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."
Notable progress toward LGBTQ+ healthcare equality reflected in
the 2024 HEI includes:
- Targeted health disparities reduction plans:
Encouragingly, 71% of responding healthcare facilities report
having an official plan for reducing health disparities that
specifically includes LGBTQ+ patients in addition to race,
ethnicity, and linguistic concerns.
- EHR SOGI data: Major increases were seen in the
number of healthcare facilities collecting sexual orientation and
gender identity-related data in their electronic health records
systems (EHRs). Seven of the eight relevant data points had
double-digit increases.
- Pronouns in electronic health records: The ability of
responding healthcare facilities to collect and display a patient's
pronouns rose from 44% to 74%. This is an important tool to help
prevent misgendering a patient.
- Comprehensive benefits for domestic partners: 41% of
responding healthcare facilities reported providing medical and
comprehensive health benefits to domestic partners of
benefits-eligible employees, up from 34% in 2022. This is the first
increase in this measure since the 2015 Obergefell decision on
same-sex marriage.
ABOUT AVITACARE ATLANTA
Trusted in the community for over two decades, AvitaCare
Atlanta, an Avita Care Solutions company, partners with MedCura
Health to offer compassionate, comprehensive, and inclusive primary
and specialized care services to the greater Atlanta community, including gender-affirming
care, sexual wellness care, diabetes management, behavioral health,
comprehensive in-person and telehealth-based HIV prevention and
treatment programs, and more. A full-service lab and pharmacy are
conveniently located within the clinic, and patients receive
discreet prescription delivery options, financial assistance
support, and medication counseling. To learn more, visit
avitacareatlanta.com.
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SOURCE AvitaCare Atlanta