MORRISTOWN, NJ (Morris County) – With a commitment to being inclusive and welcoming of all, Atlantic Health System announced that each of its six hospitals earned the “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 second consecutive year 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 Atlantic Health System, being a diverse organization means that each team member feels included and can bring their whole self to work so we can provide unwavering and Extraordinary Caring to the communities we serve,” said Armond Kinsey, Chief Diversity Officer, Atlantic Health System. “Earning the LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader Designation is a reflection of our mission to build healthier communities and illustrates or commitment to creating a safe environment where everyone is treated with respect, kindness and empathy.”
This year, the HEI 2019 scoring criteria included a higher benchmark than previous years, requiring participating facilities to demonstrate that they offered at least one company-wide health insurance plan that affirmatively provides transgender-inclusive coverage in order to earn the top score of 100.
HEI participants are given scores in four 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
“We understand our responsibility in creating an inclusive environment for our team members, patients and visitors and are proud that the Human Rights Campaign’s evaluation of our policies and practices reaffirms this commitment,” added Kinsey.
Atlantic Health System has also been named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for 11 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.
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 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 400 sites of care, including six 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 and Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ.
