AvitaCare Atlanta Scores Highest in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2024 Healthcare Equality Index

Community-focused medical center, one of 384 healthcare facilities in the United States to receive the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader Award; single installation in Atlanta to reach Leader status

ATLANTA , May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Human Rights Campaign Foundation awarded AvitaCare Atlanta 100% for its 2024 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), securing a coveted designation as an LGBTQ+ Leader in Healthcare Equality health care.

Now in his 16^th Each year, the HEI is a national benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare organizations’ policies and practices related to equity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. Participants in the HEI survey are rated according to the following criteria:

• Fundamentals of non-discrimination policy implementation and training
• Patient Services and Support
• Social and political benefits
• Patient and community engagement
• Responsible citizenship

Avita Care Solutions Company, AvitaCare Atlanta Medical Center and Pharmacy partners with covered entity MedCura Health to deliver compassionate, comprehensive and inclusive primary and specialty care services to the masses. Atlanta community, including gender-affirming care, sexual wellness care, diabetes management, behavioral health, comprehensive in-person and telehealth HIV prevention and treatment programs, and much more. Its award-winning staff of more than 70 is committed to eliminating barriers to health equity for LGBTQ+ patients by providing culturally competent care in a welcoming and safe environment.

While this year’s HEI survey covered more than 1,065 U.S. healthcare facilities, only 36% received top marks. AvitaCare Atlanta’s commitment to providing LGBTQ+ affirming care has earned it the Leader for LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality designation, reserved for facilities that score 100% on the index.

Addressing a critical need for LGBTQ+ health equity in the Atlanta community

“There has never been a more critical time in the fight for LGBTQ+ healthcare equality,” said Avita Care Solutions CEO. Michael Yount said. “To date, in 2024 alone, more than 500 bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights have been passed by the U.S. legislature, more than 100 of which specifically restrict the health care rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Thank you to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for recognizing the important work of AvitaCare Atlanta. and other organizations do it by providing compassionate and inclusive care to patients, no matter how they identify or who they love.

AvitaCare Atlanta Medical Director, Dr. Quintin Robinson, AAHIVS, supported the need to drive change in healthcare by reducing stigma and bias against America’s LGBTQ+ communities and praised his team for continually breaking down these patient-to-patient barriers. “Reports show that one in five LGBTQ+ adults in the United States have put their health care needs on hold to avoid the disrespect and discrimination they faced from some providers,” she said. -he declares. “The AvitaCare Atlanta team is specially trained to treat patients in a holistic, respectful, and non-judgmental manner. That means each patient. It is our honor to provide LGBTQ+ affirming care to members of the Atlanta community.”

Although much work remains to be done, report shows marked progress on LGBTQ+ healthcare equality

“As anti-LGBTQ+ extremists seek to suppress access to healthcare at every turn, LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are seeking healthcare providers to offer and advocate for fully inclusive services. The Healthcare Equality Index helps people find facilities where welcoming policies and practices are the norm,” said Kelly Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “We know that LGBTQ+ people, especially our trans family, continue to face discrimination in the doctor’s office. No one should have to put their health on hold for fear of being mistreated in a healthcare facility or by their doctor.

Notable progress toward LGBTQ+ healthcare equality reflected in the 2024 HEI includes:

• Targeted plans to reduce health disparities: Encouragingly, 71% of responding healthcare facilities report having a formal plan to reduce health disparities that specifically includes LGBTQ+ patients in addition to concerns related to race, ethnicity and the language.
• EHR SOGI data: Significant increases have been seen in the number of healthcare organizations collecting data related to sexual orientation and gender identity in their electronic health records (EHR) systems. Seven of the eight relevant data points showed double-digit increases.
• Pronouns in electronic health records: The ability of responding healthcare organizations to collect and display a patient’s pronouns increased from 44% to 74%. This is an important tool to help prevent gender errors in a patient.
• Comprehensive benefits for national partners: 41% of responding health care facilities reported offering comprehensive medical and health benefits to domestic partners of benefit-eligible employees, up from 34% in 2022. This is the first increase in this measure since the 2015 Obergefell decision on same-sex marriage.

ABOUT AVITACARE ATLANTA

Trusted by the community for more than two decades, AvitaCare Atlanta, an Avita Care Solutions company, partners with MedCura Health to bring compassionate, comprehensive and inclusive primary and specialty care services to the masses. Atlanta community, including gender-affirming care, sexual wellness care, diabetes management, behavioral health, comprehensive in-person and telehealth HIV prevention and treatment programs, and much more. A full-service laboratory and pharmacy are conveniently located within the clinic, and patients benefit from discreet prescription delivery options, financial assistance and medication counseling. To learn more, visit avitacareatlanta.com.

SOURCE AvitaCare Atlanta