Bayhealth Achieves Leader Status in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality

Bayhealth has been designated “Leader” status by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) in its 2020 Health Equality Index (HEI). The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational 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. 

Bayhealth earned top marks in non-discrimination and staff training, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement. The HEI 2020 scoring criteria included a higher benchmark, requiring participating facilities to demonstrate that they offered at least one company-wide health insurance plan that affirmatively provides transgender-inclusive coverage. 

A score of 100 points is necessary to achieve Leader status. Under the Diversity, Spirituality and Sensitivity Council a sub committee was formed to focus on Healthcare Equality Initiative. “This is a dynamic, multi- disciplinary taskforce that has members from Information Technology, Human Resources, community partnerships, Education and Patient Experience/ Planetree,” said Director of Patient Advocacy, Services Excellence and Professional Recruitment Marianne Foard, MS, RN, NE-BC. 

Bayhealth was named a HEI leader in 2018 and then a top performer in 2019. These continued recognitions showcase how team members at Bayhealth are driven to continue to work hard to evolve with the dynamic needs our LGBTQ+ patients.