St. Mary Medical Center Receives LGBTQ+ Equality High Performer Recognition in 2024 Healthcare Equality Index

Long Beach, Calif. ― In celebration of National Pride Month, Dignity Health - St. Mary Medical Center proudly announces it has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).

“We are honored to receive this award during Pride Month, a time to celebrate diversity and reaffirm our dedication to inclusivity. As a mission-driven organization focused on health equity, we prioritize offering a welcoming and safe environment where everyone can receive quality care, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Carolyn Caldwell, FACHE, Hospital President. “This recognition from HEI is a testament to the commitment of our compassionate care teams, who strive to ensure that our LGBTQ+ patients feel welcome, heard, and safe at our care sites every day.”

The HEI is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI evaluates and scores on detailed criteria falling under five central pillars: Non-discrimination and Staff Training; Patient Services and Support; Employee Benefits and Policies; Patient and Community Engagement, and Responsible Citizenship.

In the 2024 report, a record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring process. Of those participants, 384 received the top score of 100, earning the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation. LGBTQ+ patients have historically faced significant and long standing challenges to accessing the care they need, and St. Mary Medical Center is committed to providing welcoming, compassionate care for LGBTQ+ patients and their families.  St. Mary has a legacy of responding with urgency to the AIDS epidemic, supporting LGBTQ+ causes, expanding services for these patients, and is deeply committed to equity and inclusion in order to provide everyone with a welcoming and safe environment to receive care.

St. Mary Medical Center has long been a leader in the LGBTQ+ community for over 35 years in Long Beach, with the addition of The CARE Center. Founded in 1986 during the rise of the AIDS crisis, CARE offers comprehensive services for people living with HIV and those at high risk of infection. The CARE Center offers HIV treatment, PrEP & PEP, behavioral health, social services, dental care, health education, and housing assistance, all regardless of the patient's ability to pay. 

As part of the HEI process, St. Mary Medical Center underwent a thorough review of its LGBTQ+ care policies and practices. The medical center expanded training for staff and clinicians, revised patient forms and IT processes to better capture preferred pronouns and solicit feedback from LGBTQ+ patients, as well as clarified employee benefits to be explicitly inclusive.

For more information about our commitment to LGBTQ+ care, visit https://www.dignityhealth.org/socal/locations/stmarymedical/services/care-center

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About Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center

Founded as a faith-based hospital in 1923 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Dignity Health – St. Mary Medical Center is a 360-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Long Beach, California. The hospital offers a full complement of services, including a Level II trauma center, cardiac and vascular center, surgical weight loss, maternity and the CARE Center, which is a recognized PrEP center of excellence. The hospital shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health, one of the largest health care systems. Visit dignityhealth.org/stmarymedical for more information.