VA Portland Health Care System

VA Portland Health Care System is, again for the 7th consecutive year, designated a “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).

VA Portland Health Care System earns “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” Designation in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index 

VAPORHCS joins 495 health care providers nationwide earning the “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation

VA Portland Health Care System recently announced their “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC). The designation was awarded in the 13th edition of HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), released earlier this summer. A record 765 health care facilities actively participated in the HEI 2020 survey. Of those included in the HEI, 495 earned an “LGBTQ health care Equality Leader” designation.

VA has organized its medical center participation in the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) annually since 2012. VAPORHCS has been designated a “Leader” since 2014, and every year thereafter. The HEI, administered by the Human Rights Campaign, recognizes healthcare facilities that demonstrate equitable treatment and inclusion for sexual and gender minority patients and staff. VA participation in the HEI has increased each year. In 2018, 87 medical centers participated in the HEI and increased to 105 in 2020, with 64 centers designated as Leaders in Healthcare Equality and 34 as Top Performers.

Visit the VA LGBT Veterans population page to learn more and access a data visualization of participating VA facilities' scores.

In the 2020 report, the 495 health care facilities that earned HRC’s “LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader” designation, received the maximum score in each section and earning an overall score of 100. Another 193 facilities earned the “Top Performer” designation for scoring from 80 to 95 points. With 90% of participating facilities scoring 80 points or more, health care facilities are demonstrating concretely that they are going beyond the basics when it comes to adopting policies and practices in LGBTQ care. VAPORHCS has scored 100 points each of the past four years.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the education arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
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