Two Chicago hospitals lead in LGBT health care equality

Two Chicago hospitals, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Rush University

Medical Center, were honored on June 30 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as "leaders in LGBT health care equality."

The two hospitals received the honor based on their responses to the Healthcare Equality

Index 2011, an HRC Foundation survey. The survey showed that Advocate Illinois Masonic and Rush University Medical Centers have effective policies in place for LGBT patients.

These policies include patient and employee protection against discrimination, equal visitation rights for same-sex couples and same-sex parents, and staff training in LGBT culture.

"The first step in creating a health care environment free of bias and discrimination is

taking an internal look at the policies and practices that directly affect LGBT patients,"

HRC President Joe Solmonese said.

Of the 87 volunteer respondents to the nationwide survey, Advocate Illinois Masonic and Rush University Medical Centers were among the 27 that were labeled as "leaders in LGBT health care equality."

Nationally, the survey points to improvements in health care equality for LGBT patients. About 90 percent of the survey respondents mention sexual orientation in their Patient's Bill of Rights.

However, there is still progress to be made. Only about half of the respondents have policies giving equal visitation rights to same-sex couples and same-sex parents. Furthermore, only about 60 percent of the respondents included gender identity in the Patient's Bill of Rights.

These statistics may have negative implications for the future of LGBT health care.

"Sadly, the fear of discrimination causes many LGBT people to avoid seeking health care altogether, which in turn leads to the significant health care disparities faced by the LGBT community," Solmonese said.

DePaul associate professor and director of the LGBTQ Studies Program, Thomas Foster, sees more to the issue than sexual orientation and gender identity.

"I think one thing to keep in mind is that the LGBTQ community cuts across race, class, and gender and so the problems facing patients in communities of color and those who are economically disadvantaged must also be addressed in conjunction with LGBTQ issues," Foster said. "It's important that everyone has equal access to medical care — and that all employees in health care are treated equally."

Despite policy changes in many health care facilities in recent years, discrimination against LGBT patients is still present. A Lambda Legal study from 2010 reported that over half of lesbian, gay, and bisexual patients experienced discrimination. Additionally, 70 percent of transgender patients felt discriminated against.

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center may be leading the way to more equal treatment of LGBT patients, but there is still room left for national improvement.

"We have a long way to go in this country," Foster said.