Healthcare Equality Index

This month, St. Charles Health System is submitting an application to have all four of its hospital campuses listed on the Healthcare Equality Index.

The HEI, managed by the Human Rights Campaign, is a national LGTBQ benchmarking tool that evaluates health care facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGTBQ patients, visitors and employees.

For the past few years, St. Charles' Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity workgroup has been working on initiatives that would allow the health system to apply for the 2020 HEI. As an example of this work, St. Charles has confirmed or added “Sexual Orientation” and “Gender Identity and Expression” to its Patient Non-Discrimination, Equal Visitation and Employment Non-Discrimination policies.

Additionally, as a requirement to apply, several members of the system's executive and leadership teams had to complete a three-part training offered by the HEI titled “LGTBQ Patient-Centered Care: An Executive Briefing.” And St. Charles' Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity class has been wildly successful, with around 350 caregivers going through the course over the past year. 

Learn more about the HEI here.