Three HealthPartners hospitals recognized as leaders in LGBT health care equality

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation is giving national recognition to three HealthPartners hospitals – Park Nicollet Methodist, Regions and Lakeview

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – March 30, 2016 – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation is giving national recognition to three HealthPartners hospitals – Park Nicollet Methodist, Regions and Lakeview -- for their commitment to providing equitable, inclusive care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients and employees.

The hospitals were named “Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality” in the Healthcare Equality Index 2016 report, a unique annual survey conducted by the HRC Foundation to identify LGBT friendly healthcare institutions across the country. As the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization, the HRC Foundation encourages adoption of LGBT-inclusive policies and practices through numerous projects including the Healthcare Equality Index.

Methodist, Regions and Lakeview earned recognition as leaders by fully meeting the HRC’s key criteria for equitable care, which includes having patient and employee non-discrimination policies that are explicitly LGBT inclusive, guaranteeing equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and providing LGBT health education and training for key staff members.

“This achievement is a tremendous honor, as it speaks to HealthPartners' ongoing commitment to diversity, inclusion, and providing equitable care, service and opportunity to our members, patients and everyone in the community,” HealthPartners President and CEO Mary Brainerd said. “Embracing diversity is an integral part of the culture across our entire organization.”

Methodist has been recognized by the HRC as a LGBT healthcare equality leader since 2009, and has one of the state’s largest transgender health services programs in the state serving approximately 800 patients. Regions Hospital was first included in the 2013 Healthcare Equality Index and Lakeview was honored for the first time in 2014.

Of the 2,061 facilities that were rated in this year’s Healthcare Equity Index, 496 were named a “2016 Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality.” To read the Healthcare Equality Index 2016, visit
www.hrc.org/hei.