Legacy honored as a leader in equitable and inclusive care

Legacy Health’s eight hospitals have each earned leader designation on the national Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index for 2022. The foundation examines the equitable and inclusive care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer patients and their families to create the in-depth report.

Legacy hospitals occupy seven places on the list of 10 Oregon hospitals providing equitable, knowledgeable, sensitive and welcoming health care for everyone in LGBTQ+ community. In Washington, Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver is one of 20 hospital leaders in that state.

Tae-Sun Kim, vice president and Legacy’s chief diversity officer, said the recognition speaks to Legacy’s staff and organizational commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

"It is gratifying to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as an organization that notices and values social diversity, desires equitable patient care outcomes and refines policies and systems to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ members of our community,” said Tae-Sun.

To make the list, an organization must embrace and adopt policies and practices inclusive to LGBTQ+ patient-centered care, patient services and support, employee benefits policies, and patient and community engagement. All Legacy hospitals received the top score of 100, which is reserved for hospitals that offer transgender-inclusive health care benefits to employees.

Rook Bartz, interim manager of Legacy’s Gender and Sexual Health program, said the recognition this year and in prior years reflects Legacy’s work to be inclusive and responsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ employees and families, patients and others.

“We have a lot to be proud of, but there is more we and others can do to support the trans community at a time of increasingly visible attacks on their health care,” he said. “We are going to see an influx of need and our numbers grow even more. I want Legacy to be here with open arms in welcome.”