Dedicated to providing a caring environment where everyone is treated with respect, kindness and empathy, Atlantic Health System announced that each of its hospitals earned the coveted “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation and a top score of 100 on the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). This is the third consecutive year all of Atlantic Health System’s medical centers (Morristown, Overlook, Newton, Chilton and Hackettstown medical centers and Goryeb Children’s Hospital) earned this designation.
The Healthcare Equality Index is part of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities (LGBTQ). HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
“At a time when a global pandemic has shone a spotlight on the inequitable ways illness can impact various communities, Atlantic Health System is committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where every patient can feel welcome and each team member feels included,” said Armond Kinsey, Chief Diversity Officer, Atlantic Health System. “A third consecutive year of each Atlantic Health System medical center earning this designation shows this promise is woven into the fabric of our organization.”
The HEI 2020 is in its fourth year using scoring criteria that focus on foundational non-discrimination policies as well as a variety of policies and practices to promote LGBTQ patient-centered care. New last year was the additional requirement that healthcare facilities provide transgender-inclusive health insurance to their employees in order to receive a top score.
HEI participants are given scores in five criteria that represent how many policies and best practices from each section they have implemented:
• Criteria 1: Non-Discrimination and Staff Training
• Criteria 2: Patient Services and Support
• Criteria 3: Employee Benefits & Policies
• Criteria 4: Patient and Community Engagement
• Criteria 5: Responsible Citizenship
Atlantic Health System has also been named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for 12 years, a Best Place to Work for Women, a Best Place to Work for Diversity and has also been named to Modern Healthcare’s Best Places To Work list.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of almost 17,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 11 counties and 4.9 million people. The system offers more than 400 sites of care, including seven hospitals: 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, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, and Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ.
Atlantic Medical Group, comprised of 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, represents one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey and joins Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners as part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 16 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere’s Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across seven health systems in New Jersey.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.