Saint Luke’s Health System Campuses Earn Top Score in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Healthcare Equality Index

WASHINGTON— Nine Saint Luke’s Health System campuses have received a perfect score and the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 15th anniversary edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), 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. A record 906 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2022 HEI survey and 496 of those earned an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation.

“We are extremely proud to have all of our eligible campuses recognized as leaders in LGBTQ+ healthcare equality for multiple years,” said Nikki Beard, Director of Strategic Diversity Initiatives at Saint Luke’s Health System. “This demonstrates our steadfast commitment to providing the highest level of care to the LGBTQ community and to all patients who walk through our doors.”

Saint Luke’s Health System campuses recognized include Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, Saint Luke’s East Hospital, Saint Luke’s North Hospital–­­­­Barry Road, Saint Luke’s North Hospital–Smithville, Saint Luke’s South Hospital, Allen County Regional Hospital, Anderson County Hospital, Hedrick Medical Center, and Wright Memorial Hospital. Each of the Saint Luke’s facilities received a score of 100 and earned the “LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality Leader” designation. This is the seventh year one or more of Saint Luke’s campuses have been recognized.

“The Healthcare Equality Index, at its core, strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their healthcare providers and feel safe seeking services,” said Tari Hanneman, Director of Health & Aging at the Human Rights Campaign.  “Our HEI active participants are truly pioneering the healthcare industry by implementing robust, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive policies that hopefully, because of their work, will become standard practice.”

About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

About Saint Luke’s Health System
Saint Luke’s is a faith-based, not-for-profit, aligned health system committed to providing the highest levels of excellence in healthcare and health-related services. Saint Luke’s has more than 16 hospitals and campuses and more than 200 primary care and specialty offices treating patients in 65 specialty services across 67 counties in Missouri and Kansas. Saint Luke’s has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the elite hospitals in the nation. For more than 135 years, Saint Luke’s has been dedicated to enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the diverse communities we serve. Follow us: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn