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Newswise (PHILADELPHIA) All four hospitals in the University of Pennsylvania Health System, including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and Chester County Hospital were listed today as a 2014 LGBT Healthcare Equality Leader from Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

The Healthcare Equality Leaders were selected based on an annual survey identifying healthcare institutions that lead in efforts to offer equal care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients.

Penn Medicine hospitals earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients and their families. The four hospitals standardized their patient and employee non-discrimination policies to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression and provided LGBT patient care training for over 60 senior managers in organization leadership, nursing management, patient relations, admitting, and human resources management.

This is a major honor for our health system and reflects our commitment to advancing LGBT patient care, research, and education, says Baligh Yehia, MD, MPP, MSHP, assistant professor of Medicine and director of the Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health.

The Penn Medicine hospitals were among a select group of 426 healthcare facilities nationwide with this distinction. These facilities meet key criteria, including patient and employee non-discrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBT health education for key staff members.

Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality change the lives of LGBT patients and their families for the better each and every day, said Chad Griffin, HRC president. LGBT people should be treated equally in all aspects of our lives, and HRC celebrates Penn Medicine for its tireless work to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients.

The Penn Medicine effort was spearheaded by the newly established Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health. Penn Medicine is the first academic medical center in the Northeast one among just a handful of academic medical centers in the U.S. to launch a program across multiple professional schools and affiliated hospitals to improve the health of LGBT individuals. Health disparities and inequalities within this community have become increasingly recognized, but are rarely addressed in todays health care settings.

With more than 1.5 million members and supporters, the HRC is the largest civil rights organization seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. The Healthcare Equality Index offers healthcare facilities resources to help provide equal care to LGBT patients, as well as assistance in complying with new regulatory requirements and access to high-quality staff training.

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Penn Medicine Hospitals Named "Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality" by Human Rights Campaign