Appendix D
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Testimonials from HEI 2O12 Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality
Improving Health by Advancing a Culture of Diversity, Inclusivity and Mutual Support Leader: UW Medicine Years rated in HEI: 3 Location: Seattle, Wash. Years as Leader: 2 At UW Medicine, we believe that advancing a culture of diversity, inclusivity and mutual support is vital to our mission of improving the health of all people. Hospitals and clinics must create a safe and welcoming environment for patients, their significant others and their families. Patients measure the quality of their healthcare through the lens of how they are treated. Everyone deserves access to high-quality care free from discrimination. As the only academic healthcare system in the Pacific Northwest, UW Medicine has a long history of caring for patients from all walks of life. Based on the core values of diversity and inclusion, our culture promotes complete equality in employment practices and in interactions with our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients and families. Achieving health equity involves incorporating diversity into everything we do. With the guidance of the Healthcare Equality Index, all relevant policies have been reviewed for consistency with these four critical measures: patient non-discrimination, visitation, cultural competency training and employment nondiscrimination. To further expand our diversity efforts to students and trainees, during the past year the UW School of Medicine has adopted a diversity strategic plan and established a Center for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Its goal is to advance diversity and inclusion for leadership, faculty, trainees, students and staff. The center is led by a chief diversity officer, who reports directly to UW Medicine’s chief executive officer. UW Medicine is proud to be one of the Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality. Our commitment is to merit this recognition every day by providing the highest quality healthcare in a compassionate and professional manner, free of discrimination based on a person’s beliefs, gender identity or sexual orientation. Johnese Spisso Chief Health System Officer, UW Medicine Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Washington
www.hrc .org/hei
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