The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation has recognized Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), now part of Luminis Health, for the third year in a row. This time as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” after earning a top score of 100 on the 2020 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). The HRC Foundation is the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a leader in health equity,” said Shirley Knelly, chief compliance officer at Luminis Health and executive sponsor of the health system’s LGBTQIA Business Resource Group. “This designation recognizes our continued commitment to an equitable, inclusive environment for both our patients and workforce.”
The 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. In 2020, more than 1,700 healthcare facilities were evaluated nationwide. Of those, 495 facilities earned the “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.
In a message to designees, Alphonso David, HRC president, said, “The health care facilities participating in the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) are not only on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also making it clear from their participation in the HEI that they stand on the side of fairness and are committed to providing inclusive care to their LGBTQ patients. In addition, many have made strong statements on racial justice and equity and are engaging in efforts to address racial inequities in their institutions and their communities. We commend all of the HEI participants for their commitment to providing inclusive care for all.”
AAMC had previously been recognized by the HRC Foundation as a “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Top Performer.” “Earning the top score this year is a testament of how we are constantly working to identify opportunities to create a more inclusive culture,” said Knelly.
Anne Arundel Medical Center
Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), now a part of Luminis Health, is located in Annapolis, Md., and serves an area of more than one million people. Founded in 1902, AAMC is a 349-bed not-for-profit teaching hospital. AAMC is nationally recognized for its joint replacement center, emergency heart attack response and cancer care. A leader in women’s services, AAMC delivers the state’s second highest number of babies annually and has a Level 3 NICU. AAMC is among just eight percent of U.S. hospitals to be designated a Magnet® hospital, the highest-level credential for quality patient care and nursing excellence. As a Most Wired® healthcare organization, AAMC is nationally recognized for using technology to enhance the patient experience. AAMC also holds an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade and a five-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. AAMC consistently receives awards for quality, patient satisfaction and innovation. To learn more, visit askAAMC.org.
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