WORCESTER—The Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, also known as Kennedy Community Health, announced that it just earned its “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).
Announced on Tuesday, May 7, this designation was bestowed to the Worcester clinic in the 16th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) by the HRC. A remarkable 1,065 healthcare facilities took part in the HEI 2024 survey and assessment. Among these participants, 384 achieved a perfect score of 100, earning them the prestigious title of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader.”
“We are extremely honored to receive this recognition for the 10th consecutive year and to continue to serve as the only provider in Central Massachusetts to receive the top rating for equitable and inclusive care,” said Stephen J. Kerrigan, President & CEO of Kennedy Community Health, in a statement. “The work of our incredible staff at each of our eleven locations has made this achievement possible, ensuring all our patients, including our LGBTQ+ patients and their families, have a positive, affirming, and equitable care experience.”
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, added in a statement: “As anti-LGBTQ+ extremists look to strip away healthcare access at every turn, LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones are looking for healthcare providers to offer and champion fully inclusive services, The Healthcare Equality Index is helping people find facilities where welcoming policies and practices are the standard. 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 the backburner for fear of mistreatment in a healthcare facility or by their doctor.”
The report revealed some startling statistics, including that only 27 percent have an externally promoted specific program to help with patient navigation or advocacy services for transgender patients. It also showed that just over half have a policy or policies that specifically outline procedures and practices to eliminate bias and insensitivity.
An encouraging statistic from the report shows that 71 percent have an official plan for reducing health disparities that specifically includes LGBTQ+ patients in addition to race, ethnicity, and linguistic concerns. Also, up from 34 percent in 2022, now 38 percent offer FMLA-equivalent benefits that allow employees to take family and medical leave to care for same-sex partners as well as the children of a same-sex partner, regardless of biological or adoptive status.
The full Healthcare Equality Index 2024 is available here.
This year’s HEI comes as LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to be “treated unfairly or with disrespect by a doctor or healthcare provider” in the last three years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Send news to Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org
