Stony Brook University Hospital and Stony Brook Southampton Hospital have been named leaders in LGBTQ health care equality for 2020 by the National LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Index of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
The hospital system recently announced that with a top score of 100 on a nondiscrimination survey, the two facilities were featured as "Equality Leaders" in the 13th edition of the foundation's health care equality index last August. Out of the 765 health care facilities that participated in the 2020 survey, 495 received the honor.
The Stony Brook hospital system has also appointed an LGBTQ committee, created a website, and put out a video to explain and address the needs of the LGBTQ community, which includes patients, faculty, staff, and trainees.
“I am very proud and appreciative of the LGBTQ committee’s collective efforts and hard work to achieve this goal,” said Carol Gomes, chief executive officer for Stony Brook University Hospital.
The initiative is part of Stony Brook University’s Diversity Office, led by Judith Brown Clarke, vice president of equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer.
“We are committed to creating an environment where everyone is welcome and valued,” said Robert S. Chaloner, Stony Brook Southampton's chief administrative officer, who is gay. “We are honored to have our efforts recognized and will continue to improve access to services we provide to the LGBTQ community.”