APLA Health earns LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader Designation in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index
Media Contact:
Alex Medina
213.201.1521 (o)
213.443.6518 (c)
amedina@apla.org
For Immediate Release
September 24, 2020 – APLA Health has earned a perfect 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRC) recently released 2020 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), resulting in the coveted “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation. In its 13th year, a record 765 healthcare facilities actively participated in this national LGBTQ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices.
“APLA Health is honored to be recognized by HRC for our longstanding efforts to remove any barriers to individuals receiving culturally competent quality healthcare,” said Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health. “The Healthcare Equality Index’s extensive evaluative criteria validates our organization-wide approach to prioritizing the equity and inclusion of our LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees.”
HEI participants are scored on more than 50 criteria for LGBTQ patient-centered care which include allowing patients to self-identify in electronic health records, establishing committees to review LGBTQ patient care standards and developing guidelines for transgender patient interactions with providers. The Healthcare Equality Index also measures standards that ensure LGBTQ employees, like LGBTQ patients, receive equal treatment, particularly in health-related benefits and policy areas.
ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION: The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the education arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
ABOUT APLA HEALTH: APLA Health’s mission is to achieve healthcare equity and promote well-being for the LGBTQ and other underserved communities and people living with and affected by HIV. We remain committed to ending the epidemic in our lifetime. We are a nonprofit, federally qualified health center serving more than 18,000 people annually. We provide 20 different services at 20 locations throughout Los Angeles County, including: medical, dental, behavioral health and HIV care; PrEP counseling and management; health education and HIV prevention; and STD screening and treatment. For people living with HIV, we offer housing support; benefits counseling; home healthcare; and the Vance North Necessities of Life Program food pantries; among several other critically needed services. Additionally, we are leaders in advocating for policy and legislation that positively impacts the LGBTQ and HIV communities and conduct community-based research on issues affecting the communities we serve. For more information, please visit us at aplahealth.org.
