St. Bernardine Medical Center Receives “LGBTQ+ Equality High Performer” Recognition in 2024 Healthcare Equality Index

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF., June 14, 2024 – Dignity Health - St. Bernardine Medical Center (SBMC) has been recognized for the second consecutive year as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI).

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.

"As a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing inclusive care for all individuals, our priority is to ensure everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, feels welcomed, embraced, heard and secure within our hospital”, shares Doug Kleam, St. Bernardine Medical Center Hospital President. “We recognize the barriers the LGBTQ+ community has faced in accessing healthcare and acknowledge the health disparities they encounter. This recognition from HEI reflects the unwavering dedication of our compassionate care teams, who are steadfast in ensuring that patients are treated everyday with great care, dignity and respect.”

The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities 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.

LGBTQ+ patients have historically faced significant and long standing challenges to accessing the care they need, and St. Bernardine is committed to providing welcoming, compassionate care for LGBTQ+ patients and their families.

As part of the HEI process, St. Bernardine underwent a comprehensive review of LGBTQ+ care policies and practices within the organization. SBMC updated dozens of policies to support LGBTQ+ health care outcomes, expanded training for staff and clinicians, updated patient forms and IT 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 – to name just a few examples. 

For more information about St. Bernardine Medical Center’s commitment to LGBTQ+ care, visit www.dignityhealth.org/stbernardinemedicalcenter.

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About Dignity Health – St. Bernardine Medical Center

Founded as a faith-based hospital in 1931 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Dignity Health – St. Bernardine Medical Center (SBMC) is a 342-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in San Bernardino, California. The hospital offers a full complement of services and it shares a legacy of humankindness with Dignity Health, one of the largest health care systems. SBMC has been recognized by American Stroke Association - “Get With the Guidelines” Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, one of Healthgrades America's 100 Best Hospitals for General Surgery and for Orthopedic Surgery for 5 years in a row, named among the top 5 percent in the country for General Surgery and Orthopedic Services, a Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Sepsis for 8 years in a row, and earned Blue Distinction for Maternity Care, Gastric Band, Cardiac Care, and Knee and Hip Replacement from Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Visit dignityhealth.org/stbernardine for more information.