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Nearly 25 BWHers turned out for the first BWH/Faulkner LGBT Staff Affinity Group meeting last month.
“Our first meeting focused on group cohesion, people getting to know each other and brainstorming ideas for different events and initiatives that our group should take part in,” said Carrie Braverman, LICSW, who chairs the group.
The affinity group is one of the ways that BWH and Faulkner are working to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients and employees are fully integrated, respected and valued. BWH and Faulkner last month were named top performers in the Healthcare Equality Index of 2009, a survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
“We are thrilled to have participated in the HEI survey in 2009, and we vigorously embrace the commitment to inclusion and diversity in health care that it embodies,” said Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA, senior vice president for Clinical Excellence. “And while we are proud of our perfect HEI score, we are equally gratified that the process of self-assessment has stimulated significant new quality improvement activity to further bolster our care policies and practices for both LGBT patients and our LGBT staff.”
BW/F earned top marks for treatment of LGBT patients and employees, and are two of only 10 hospitals to earn a perfect score on all survey dimensions among the 166 participating hospitals and clinics.
The HEI focuses on key policies and practices that ensure culturally competent health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients and families. These policies address patient non-discrimination, visitation rights, decision-making practices, and employee benefits and non-discrimination. BW/F’s efforts in ensuring health care equality for the LGBT community earned it the distinction of being among the 10 participants to answer yes to each of the survey’s main criterion that applied to them.
Administrators at BWH have begun examining policies and services to patients to ensure the hospital is a welcoming and open place for all patients.
Social Work developed a two-hour training for all social workers on caring for LGBT patients, which HR is adapting into a half-day course as part of the organization-wide Diversity and Inclusion program for any interested employee. Graham McMahon, MD, also presented on caring for lesbian, gay and bisexual patients during a medical grand rounds, and Braverman spoke at a nursing cultural grand rounds as well.
The newly-formed affinity group has three charges: providing education and advocacy within the hospital to improve patient care and the work environment for LGBT staff; participating in community initiatives, such as the Gay Pride Parade June 13; and social networking activities for group members to foster camaraderie, such as book clubs, bowling nights and dinner outings.
“There are a number of ways to put this issue on the forefront, and it’s wonderful to see so much eagerness and energy,” said Braverman.