To receive credit in the HEI, a facility must:

Upload a copy of the facility's patient nondiscrimination policy or patient bill of rights.

Examples:

Faulkner Hospital (Boston, MA)
This is a concise non-discrimination policy with clear, LGBTQ+ inclusive language.
It is the policy of Faulkner Hospital to treat all patients and not to discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or disability.

Group Health Central Hospital (Seattle, WA)
Group Health Cooperative shall operate in a manner that does not unlawfully discriminate against people on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy) age, sexual orientation (including gender identity and expression), marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Group Health prohibits retaliation against any person because he or she opposed or complained about discrimination in good faith, assisted in good faith in the investigation of a discrimination complaint, or participated in a discrimination charge or other proceeding under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination law.

Rush University (Chicago, IL)
This university affiliated hospital’s LGBTQ+ non-discrimination policy delineates its application to all members of the university community.

Discrimination or harassment against any member of the Rush University Medical Center community (i.e., employee, faculty, house staff, student, or patient) because of age, ancestry, color, disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, gender, gender identity and/or expression, marital or parental status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran's status or any other categories protected by federal or state law is prohibited and will not be tolerated, nor will any person for those reasons be excluded from the participation in or denied the benefits of any program or activity within Rush University Medical Center or Rush University.

UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco, CA)
It is the policy of UCSF Medical Center not to engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment or patient care with UCSF Medical Center on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical, mental or other disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized). Non-discrimination information is available in an alternate form of communication to meet the needs of people with sensory impairments.

Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center (New York, NY)
This LGBTQ+ inclusive non-discrimination policy makes it clear that it applies to all facets of patient care. Additionally, this policy goes the extra step of declaring respect of their patient’s gender identity and preferred pronouns, extending a clear welcome to transgender patients.

It is the policy of MSBI to provide equitable health care without discrimination against, or harassment of, any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, language, religion, sex, age, disability, citizenship, marital status, creed, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity (the patient’s preferred gender will be respected, and the patient will be referred to by their name and pronoun of choice, whenever feasible) or other non-medically relevant factor or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. Any such discrimination or harassment is prohibited and will not be tolerated. This applies to admission, treatment, discharge or other participation in any of MSBI’s programs, services or activities, including, but not limited to: all patient admissions; all care, whether inpatient, outpatient or emergency in nature; all patients’ room, floor or section assignments or transfers, except in those cases where patient safety or health condition is a necessary consideration; and employee assignments to patient services.

Vanderbilt Hospital and Clinics (Nashville, TN)
We will treat you without regard to your race, nationality, religion, beliefs, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or source of payment.

Saint Luke’s Health System (Kansas City, MO)
The patient has the right to treatment without discrimination as to race, age, religion, sex, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or source of payment.

Veterans Health Administration
You will be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect as an individual. Consistent with Federal law, VA policy, and accreditation standards of The Joint Commission, you will not be subject to discrimination for any reason, including for reasons of age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

Policy Statements from Healthcare Provider Organizations

The following national healthcare provider organizations have passed supportive policy statements on patient non-discrimination inclusive of both "sexual orientation" and "gender identity."

American Academy of Physician Assistants
Physician assistants should not discriminate against classes or categories of patients in the delivery of needed health care. Such classes and categories include gender, color, creed, race, religion, age, ethnic or national origin, political beliefs, nature of illness, disability, socioeconomic status, physical stature, body size, gender identity, marital status, or sexual orientation.
– Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession [www.aapa.org]

American Medical Association
Our AMA will encourage and work with state medical societies to provide a sample printed nondiscrimination policy suitable for framing, and encourage individual physicians to display for patient and staff awareness-as one example: "This office appreciates the diversity of human beings and does not discriminate based on race, age, religion, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, sex, or gender identity." (Res. 414, A-04; Modified: BOT Rep. 11, A-07)
– AMA Policy Regarding Sexual Orientation [www.ama-assn.org]

American Medical Student Association
OPPOSES all public and private discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, including in: medical school admissions, promotion and graduation; postgraduate placement; hospital staff appointments; licensure; availability of health services; and access to social welfare; (2008).
– Principles Regarding Sexuality [www.amsa.org]

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The patient-physician relationship: The welfare of the patient (beneficence) is central to all considerations in the patient-physician relationship. Included in this relationship is the obligation of physicians to respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals. The respect for the right of individual patients to make their own choices about their health care (autonomy) is fundamental. The principle of justice requires strict avoidance of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, perceived gender, and any basis that would constitute illegal discrimination (justice).
– Code of Professional Ethics [www.acog.org]

American Association of Family Physicians
The AAFP opposes all discrimination in any form, including but not limited to, that on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic affiliation, health, age, disability, economic status, body habitus or national origin. (1996) (2010 COD)
– Discrimination, Patient [www.aafp.org]

American College of Healthcare Executives
ACHE works to foster an inclusive environment that recognizes the contributions and supports the advancement of all, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability because an inclusive environment can enhance the quality of healthcare, improve hospital/community relations, and positively affect the health status of society. This priority is reflected in ACHE's various activities and initiatives.
– Statement on Diversity [www.ache.org]

American Academy of Pediatrics
The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is “to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.” In support of this mission, therefore, the AAP is opposed to discrimination in the care of any patient on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, immigration status, or disability of the patient or patient's parent(s) or guardian(s).
– Nondiscrimination in Pediatric Health Care [www.aap.org]

To receive credit in the HEI, a facility must:

Provide at least two examples of how policy is communicated to patients – typically one is a website example and the other will be a document like a brochure. It could also be a poster or photo of sign/poster in waiting area.

More information:

Communicating your LGBTQ+ inclusive patient non-discrimination policy to patients is just as, if not more important than having the policy itself in place. The HEI requires survey participants to make these policies readily accessible to patients in at least two of the following ways:

• Posted on facility website
• In materials given to patients at admitting/registration
• In materials given to patients at other time(s)
• In materials available for take-away in patient waiting areas
• Posted in patient waiting area(s)

Examples:

Posted on facility website:

• Seattle Children’s Hospital's Rights and Responsibilities webpage has a LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination policy for LGBT patients and families. Seattle Children’s clear LGBT-inclusive policies are similar to other hospitals, as pediatric facilities do not need to craft special or different language to ensure LGBT inclusion for patients and visitors.

In materials given to patients at admitting/registration:

• Henry Ford Macomb Hospital offers a comprehensive patient handbook that delineates “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in the first bullet in their Patient Rights & Responsibilities (pg. 15).
• Einstein Healthcare Network's Patient Rights and Responsibilities brochure has an LGBT inclusive patient non-discrimination statement under the heading “the right to care no matter what your background or circumstances.”
• Cleveland Clinic's Patient Rights and Responsibilities brochure clearly ensures that patients have access to care regardless of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” in its “Access to Care” section (pg. 4). In the “Personal Privacy/Visitation” section (pg. 4), it guarantees patients the right to designate a visitor of their choosing, including a same-sex domestic partner in the list of visitors a patient might designate.

In materials given to patients at other time(s):

• California Pacific Medical Center's Patient Rights and Responsibilities flyer lists an LGBTQ+ inclusive patient non-discrimination statement as Number 1.
• Chester County Hospital's Statement of Patient’s Rights guarantees patients care without discrimination based on gender identity or expression or sexual orientation (highlighted on the first page). These LGBTQ+ inclusive policies apply to all of the hospitals in the University of Pennsylvania Health System, including Chester County Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In materials available for take-away in patient waiting areas:

• Christiana Care Health System has a Patient Rights and Responsibilities brochure (also available in Spanish) that lists “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” as protected classes under the first bullet in “Participating in your care.”

Posted in patient waiting area(s):

• Children’s Mercy Hospital has a poster with a simple non-discrimination statement that is posted in patient areas.
• Kaiser Permanente lists their LGBTQ+ inclusive patient non-discrimination policy first on their Patients’ Rights poster.

To receive credit in the HEI, a facility must:

Upload at least one example of how this policy is communicated to staff. This example must be an internal example and not a public document. It cannot be the same as the example of how the policy is communicated to patients.

More information:

The HEI requires facilities to share their LGBTQ+ inclusive Patient Non-Discrimination Policy with its employees in at least one of the following ways:

• Posted on facility intranet site
• Posted in employee work area(s)
• In materials routinely given to employees at orientation
• Reviewed in in-person employee training
• Reviewed in online employee training

Posted on facility intranet site:

• Sharp Memorial Hospital's intranet system called SharpNET creates an easy way for employees to access policies and procedures.
• Bridgeport Hospital of Yale-New Haven Health System uses Policy Manager so employees can readily access their Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities document.

Posted in employee work area(s):

• Steps to Recovery displays its Patient Non-Discrimination and Equal Visitation in employee only areas such as the lunchroom.

In materials routinely given to employees at orientation:

• VA Coatesville Medical Center and other VHA facilities provide a handout in each employee’s orientation packet that includes links to the patient non-discrimination policies as well as other LGBTQ+ patient initiatives and policies.

Reviewed in in-person employee training:

• NYC Health + Hospital's facilities review the patient and resident rights in their new employee orientation.
• Boston Children’s Hospital includes a review of the patient non-discrimination policy in their new employee training.

Reviewed in online employee training:

• F.F. Thompson Hospital requires employees to review their key non-discrimination policies using an online training module.
• A Southern California hospital uses this online training module to review patient’s rights policies with employees.