June 26, 2017, Morristown, NJ – Atlantic Health System today announced that Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Chilton Medical Center, Newton Medical Center, and Goryeb Children’s Hospital were recognized by the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equality Index as Leaders in LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) Health Care Equality.
Morristown Medical Center has achieved this recognition since 2013, Overlook and Newton Medical Centers since 2014, Goryeb Children’s Hospital since 2016, and Chilton Medical Center achieved this recognition for the first time, this year.
The 10th edition of the HEI included new, more challenging criteria that raised the bar on what it takes to earn HRC’s “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation. This year, the recognition was only received by 303 hospitals nationwide.
“When I arrived in 2015, I signed the American Hospital Association’s #123forEquity pledge, which asks hospital and health system leaders to ensure that every person in every community receives high-quality, equitable and safe care,” said Brian Gragnolati, President and CEO, Atlantic Health System. “I am proud that Atlantic Health System hospitals continue to be committed to an equal and non-discriminatory environment, and continue to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care.”
About the Healthcare Equality Index
Celebrating its 10th year, the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2017 evaluates a total of 1619 healthcare facilities nationwide.
For the first time, HEI participants are awarded numerical scores for their implementation of LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices in four areas; LGBTQ patient-centered care, LGBTQ patient services and support, fully-inclusive employee benefits and policies, and LGBTQ patient and community engagement. Participants receiving the maximum score in each section, for a total score of 100, earn the coveted status of “2017 Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.”
In the 2017 report, an impressive 303 facilities – 51 percent of those actively participating in the survey – met this year’s more challenging criteria to earn the Leader designation. Another 144 facilities earned a “Top Performer” designation for scoring between 80 and 95 points. With three quarters of actively-participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, it is clear that healthcare facilities are going beyond the basics in adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ care.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System, headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, is a leading non-profit, clinically integrated health care system comprised of Atlantic Medical Group with more than 900 physicians and multispecialty care providers, medical centers, rehabilitation and urgent care. Atlantic Medical Group had more than 1.2 million patient visits in 2016. Locations include Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ; Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ; Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ; Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ; Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ; and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, as well as Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute, and Atlantic Home Care and Hospice. It also includes its subsidiary, Atlantic Ambulance Corporation. Atlantic Health System comprises 1,747 licensed beds, nearly 16,000 employees and more than 3,700 physicians. Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University; is part of Atlantic Accountable Care Organization, one of the largest ACOs in the nation, and is a member of AllSpire Health Partners.