Dignity Health Hospitals Receive National Recognition from Human Rights Campaign in 2024 Healthcare Equality Index

SAN ANDREAS, CA –June 12, 2024 – As the nation celebrates Pride Month, Dignity Health is honored to announce that all seven Dignity Health Central Valley Market Hospitals, including Bakersfield Memorial, Mark Twain Medical Center, Mercy Merced, Mercy Bakersfield DT, Mercy Bakersfield SW, St. Joseph’s Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Behavioral Hospitals have been recognized in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2024 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).

"This national recognition from the Human Rights Campaign is a testament to the dedication of our compassionate care teams across the state of California, who are committed to making sure that our LGBTQ+ patients feel welcome, heard, and safe in our care sites every day," shares Julie J. Sprengel, President, California Region. "I could not be more proud of our teams for being designated HEI leaders and top performers, serving as proof that we are here to make a difference for our diverse communities."

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. 

“We value diversity among employees, volunteers and physicians and believe that comprehensive and compassionate healthcare should not be a privilege, but a right,” shares Doug Archer, Dignity Health Mark Twain Medical Center President. “The LGBTQ+ community has historically faced challenges in accessing the care they need. As part of our commitment to providing inclusive care for all, we are dedicated to offering welcoming and compassionate care to our LGBTQ+ patients and their families.”

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.

As part of the HEI process, each hospital underwent a comprehensive review of LGBTQ+ care policies and practices within the organization, including expanded training for staff and clinicians, updated patient forms and processes to better capture preferred pronouns and solicit feedback from LGBTQ+ patients, and clarified wording in employee benefits to be explicitly inclusive of LGBTQ+ employees. 

For more information about Dignity Health’s commitment to LGBTQ+ care, visit https://www.dignityhealth.org/lgbtqcare.

About Dignity Health

Dignity Health is a multi-state nonprofit network of 10,000 physicians, more than 60,000 employees, 41 acute care hospitals, and 400-plus care-centers, including community hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. Dignity Health is a part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit health system committed to advancing health for all people and dedicated to serving the common good. For more information, please visit our website at www.DignityHealth.org.

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