June has long been recognized as Pride Month, in honor of the Stonewall riots which took place in New York City in June 1969. A symbol of gay pride, the rainbow flag reflects the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender.
“At Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, we want all patients to feel welcomed and have access to the care they need at all stages of their life,” says Richard Davis, President and CEO, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (CBMC). “We are proud to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for a sixth year as Leaders in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality.”
Throughout June, the PROUD BRG (Promoting Respect, Outreach, Understanding and Diversity Business Resource Group) and Diversity and Inclusion Department at CBMC held a variety of programs in honor of Pride Month. To start, more than 900 Pride Month t-shirts were distributed to staff at the medical center and flag raisings were held on the CBMC and Ambulatory Care Center campuses. Staff also took part in the Pride 2022 by Out Montclair and North Jersey Pride Festival, a virtual education program was held for parents that addressed evidenced-based tips for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and a collection is underway for the RAIN (Rescuing Adolescents in Need) Foundation in East Orange which shelters and supports LGBTQIA+ youth. Lastly, CBMC hosted a Facebook Live with plastic surgeon Jonathan Keith, MD, discussing gender affirmation surgeries.
In addition, CBMC has been recognized and re-designated as “Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. CBMC has held this designation since 2016. The distinguished honor of being selected as “Healthcare Equality Leaders” was based on the HRC Foundation’s annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), the nation’s leading benchmarking assessment of healthcare facilities identifying healthcare institutions that are leaders in efforts to offer equitable care to LGBTQ+ patients by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to LGBTQ patients, visitors, and employees. The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars, Foundational Policies and Training in LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care, LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support, Employee Benefits and Policies and Patient and Community Engagement.
In the 2022 report, only 496 facilities in the country earned HRC’s “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation, receiving the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100. CBMC and nine other RWJBarnabas Health facilities were among only a few hospitals in the state that earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate a commitment to equitable, inclusive, and compassionate care for LGBTQ+ patients and their families, who often face significant challenges in securing the medical care they need and deserve.
Learn more about LGBTQIA+ services at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center.