RWJUH New Brunswick and Somerset Named Natl. Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) New Brunswick and Somerset has been recognized as "Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality" for the third consecutive year by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the country's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. This designation was reported in the 10th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), reflecting on a decade of progress in LGBTQ healthcare.

Both RWJUH facilities 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.

To earn this recognition, RWJUH reached a set of LGBTQ-inclusive benchmarks from the HRC Foundation's Healthcare Equality Index, an annual survey that encourages equal care for the LGBTQ community by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to patients, visitors and employees.

"Receiving this honor once again is a testament to the quality of care Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital continually delivers to our diverse patient population across the region," said Michael Antoniades, MPA, President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJUH New Brunswick and Somerset. "The physicians and staff at RWJUH make the upmost effort to ensure patients of any orientation feel welcome so they can focus on wellness, healing and recovering. We are proud to be named as a trusted healthcare leader and provider that the LGBTQ community can rely on."

A record 590 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2017 survey. In addition, the HRC Foundation proactively researched key policies at more than 900 non-participating hospitals. Of all those included in the HEI, 302 earned a "Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality" designation.

This honor comes just weeks after the grand opening of the PROUD Family Health Clinic at the RWJ Somerset Family Practice on January 30, 2017. The new office offers specialized healthcare tailored for the LGBTQIA community in a safe and supportive environment.

Services provided include primary medical care for children and adults, hormone therapy and monitoring, HIV care, health education, counseling, support groups and referrals for specialty services such as behavioral health services. Last March, the hospital also launched the Transgender Family Support Group, the first of its kind in the region, to help spouses, partners, and children better understand their transgender family members.

RWJUH New Brunswick and Somerset are joined by Jersey City Medical Center, also an RWJBarnabas Health facility, as three of a few hospitals in the region to earn this distinction for creating diversity and inclusion policies and practices that respect the rights of patients, employees, physicians and families.

For a referral to a physician affiliated with RWJUH, please call 1-888-MD-RWJUH.

For more information, visit www.rwjuh.edu.