MUSC Health Named A Leader in 'LGBT Health Care Equality'

Contact: Heather Woolwine
843-792-7669
woolwinh@musc.edu

March 24, 2016

CHARLESTON, SC – MUSC Health has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBT Health care Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization.

The findings were part of HRC Foundation’s Health care Equality Index 2016, a unique annual survey that encourages equal care for LGBT Americans by evaluating inclusive policies and practices related to LGBT patients, visitors, and employees.

MUSC Health earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients, and their families, who can face significant challenges in securing the quality health care and respect they deserve. In addition, MUSC is making progress on inclusivity and awareness of the LGBT community via a “Safe Zone” organization on campus. To read more about that effort, visit Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“We are honored to receive this recognition of our efforts to build a diverse and inclusive organization that understands the unique needs of the many communities we serve,” said Anton Gunn, MUSC Health chief diversity officer and executive director of Community Health Innovation. “This is an important first step in our journey to advance equity and inclusion throughout our health system. We are committed to creating a culturally competent clinical environment, training and educating inclusive clinicians,  and improving health services for the LGBT community.”

MUSC Health is one of a select group of 496 health care facilities nationwide to be named Leaders in LGBT Health care Equality. Facilities awarded this title meet key criteria, including patient and employee non-discrimination policies that specifically mention sexual orientation and gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBT health education for key staff members.

“Despite all the progress we’ve made, far too many LGBT people still lack inclusive and affirming health care. and Leaders in LGBT Health care Equality are helping to change that, and, in the process, making the lives of LGBT patients and their families better each and every day,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “LGBT people have a right to be treated equally in all aspects of our lives, and HRC celebrates MUSC for its work to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients.”

The Health care Equality Index offers Health care facilities unique and powerful resources designed to help provide equal care to a long-overlooked group of patients, as well as assistance in complying with regulatory requirements and access to high-quality staff training.

For more information about the Health care Equality Index 2016, or to download a free copy of the report, visit Healthcare Equality Index.

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the state's only comprehensive academic health system, with a unique mission to preserve and optimize human life in South Carolina through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates more than 3,200 students in six colleges – Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy – and trains more than 900 residents and fellows in its health system. MUSC brought in more than $300 million in research funds in fiscal year 2023, leading the state overall in research funding. MUSC also leads the state in federal and National Institutes of Health funding. Learn more about our academic programs.

As the health care system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality and safest patient care while educating and training generations of outstanding health care providers and leaders to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Patient care is provided at 16 hospitals (includes owned or governing interest), with approximately 2,700 beds and four additional hospital locations in development, more than 350 telehealth sites and nearly 750 care locations situated in all regions of South Carolina. In 2023, for the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health University Medical Center in Charleston the Number 1 hospital in South Carolina. Learn more about our patient services.

MUSC has a total enterprise annual operating budget of $5.9 billion. The nearly 26,000 MUSC family members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers, scientists, students, affiliates and care team members who deliver groundbreaking education, research, and patient care.