UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Once Again Earns "LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader" Designation

UnityPoint Health – Des Moines announced their third “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 13th edition of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) and is the first time all four hospitals – Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Blank Children’s Hospital and Methodist West Hospital – received the distinction. A record 765 health care facilities actively participated in the HEI 2020 survey, with 495 earning a top score of 100 and the “Leader in LGBTQ Health Care Equality” designation. 

“All are welcome at UnityPoint Health,” says Joyce McDanel, vice president of human resources and education at UnityPoint Health – Des Moines. “We believe our UnityPoint Clinic LGBTQ location provides crucial health care opportunities for Central Iowans, and this honor will help us continue to deliver an inclusive health care environment for our patients, providers and team members.” 

The remarkable progress reflected in the 2020 HEI includes:  

• 92% of participants met the HEI's training requirements, completing more than 150,000 hours of staff training in LGBTQ patient-centered care.
• 99% of HEI participants documented that they include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in their patient non-discrimination policy.
• 99% of HEI participants documented that they include both “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” in their employment nondiscrimination policy.
• 53% of HEI participants indicated that their facility has a policy or policies that specifically outline procedures and practices aimed at eliminating bias and insensitivity, and ensuring appropriate, welcoming interactions with transgender patients.
• After many years of trailing their corporate counterparts in the provision of transgender-inclusive health care benefits for employees, HEI participating healthcare facilities are nearly on par with the HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) participants as 80% have at least one health care plan that offered this benefit. The latest CEI noted 85% of participants having such benefits. 

“The health care facilities participating in the HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) are not only on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also making it clear from their participation in the HEI that they stand on the side of fairness and are committed to providing inclusive care to their LGBTQ patients,” says HRC President Alphonso David.