UMD Designated as a 2018 Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, recently designated the University of Maryland as a 2018 Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equity in the 11th edition of its annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). The report scores healthcare facilities on the policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. This is the second year in a row that UMD has earned a designation for receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100.

"I'm really proud that we continue to support the LGBT community at the University of Maryland," said David McBride, M.D., director, University of Maryland Health Center. "Our recognition from HRC is acknowledgement of the hard work of our team to serve our diverse community."

A record 626 healthcare facilities actively participated in this year’s survey. These facilities were asssessed on four factors: LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ patient services and support, employee benefits and policies and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. The University of Maryland was one of 418 facilities to earn a top score.

To view the Healthcare Equality Index 2018 or to download a free copy of the report, visit http://www.hrc.org/hei. For additional information on UMD’s LGBT health and sexuality resources, visit http://www.health.umd.edu/lgbthealth.