Hospital In Hartford Honored For Work With LGBTQ+ Community

Saint Francis Hospital

HARTFORD, CT — A hospital in Hartford recently was honored for its standing in treating members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Saint Francis Hospital has been named an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Builder” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

The designation was awarded in the 16th iteration of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index, released last week.

A record 1,065 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2024 survey and scoring process.

Of those participants, 112 received the “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Builder” designation.

“Saint Francis Hospital is committed to taking action in promoting health equity,” said Dr. David S. Shapiro, chief medical officer at Saint Francis. “As part of our mission to be a transforming, healing presence in our community, Saint Francis has a commitment to serve all and stands as a beacon to many marginalized communities and those lacking access to healthcare.”

HRC evaluates hospitals for HEI designation based on four core objectives: foundational
nondiscrimination including patients, visitors, and staff; progress toward inclusivity for LGBTQ+ patient care services and support; cultivation of an inclusive workplace by providing inclusive policies and benefits; and engagement and public commitment with the LGBTQ+ community.

“As anti-LGBTQ+ extremists look to strip away healthcare access at every turn, LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are looking for healthcare providers to offer and champion fully inclusive services. The Healthcare Equality Index is helping people find facilities where welcoming policies and practices are the standard,” said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign.

“We know that LGBTQ+ people – especially our trans family – continue to face discrimination in the doctor’s office. No one should have to put their health on the back burner for fear of mistreatment in a healthcare facility or by their doctor.”

This year’s HEI comes as LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to be “treated unfairly or with disrespect by a doctor or healthcare provider” in the last three years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people.