Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin: Human Rights Campaign recognizes Froedtert Hospital as national leader in LGBTQ health care equality

Contact:

Kathy Sieja

(414) 805-2618

kathy.sieja@froedtert.com

Milwaukee, Wis. (April 10, 2017) – Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital has been named a “2017 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization. Community Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital earned top performer status.

Wauwatosa-based Froedtert Hospital earned top marks for meeting non-discrimination and training criteria as measured by the HRC Foundation’s Equality Index, and for an assessment of 30 best practices in caring for LGBTQ patients and their families. The HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index is a survey that recognizes health care organizations doing the best work in enabling and providing equal care for LGBTQ Americans.

“Members of the LGBTQ community, like all individuals, deserve exceptional care delivered with dignity and respect,” said Andres Gonzalez, vice president and chief diversity officer for the Froedtert & MCW health network. “This recognition is reflective of our commitment to equality and inclusiveness to all patients entering our hospital.”

Froedtert Hospital is among just 300 health care organizations nationwide to be named 2017 Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality. The facilities met all key criteria, including patient and employee non-discrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBTQ health education for staff members.

Froedtert & MCW health network members Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls and St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Bend were recognized as top performers, both earning 85 points in the survey. In Wisconsin, 16 hospitals participated but only 10 earned leader or top performer rankings. Six hundred hospitals participated in the national survey.

The 10th edition of the index implemented new criteria that raised the bar on what it takes to earn HRC’s “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation. For the first time, HEI participants were scored in four criteria that represented how many LGBTQ-focused policies and best practices they had implemented in key areas: foundational elements of patient-centered care, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement. Participants that received the maximum score in each section for a total score of 100 points earn “2017 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” status.

“The 2017 HEI reminds us again that though we have made tremendous gains over the past decade, there is still much more work left for us to do. With some of our biggest battles still ahead of us, it is crucial that institutions continue to demonstrate that the march toward full equality is not slowing down,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

The Froedtert & MCW health network’s Diversity and Inclusion Program supports a commitment to value and celebrate the wealth of diversity reflected in patients, their families, staff and communities.

The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin. It comprises eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee; Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls; and St. Joseph’s Hospital, West Bend. The health network also includes more than 2,700 physicians across 25 primary and specialty clinical locations representing the collaboration of Wisconsin’s largest multispecialty physician practice with a community-based physician group. The network’s three hospitals have 804 staffed beds, more than 40,000 annual admissions and nearly 966,000 annual outpatient visits. Froedtert & MCW network physicians have more than 775,000 annual patient visits at its health centers and clinics. For more information, visit froedtert.com.