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Healthcare Equality Index: About the Survey

The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) survey will soon be open for completion. Request your survey log-in information today!

What is the HEI survey?

The annual Healthcare Equality Index surveys and rates respondents on their policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) patients and families. It also serves as a unique benchmarking tool for identifying emerging best practices in LGBT patient-centered care. Facilities throughout the nation now look to the HEI for up-to-date assistance in providing equitable, inclusive care to LGBT patients and families.

The HEI survey is comprised of seven main sections:

  1. Patient Non-Discrimination Policies
  2. Visitation Policies
  3. Training on LGBT Patient-Centered Care
  4. Advance Healthcare Directive Training & Policies
  5. Employment Policies and Benefits
  6. Inpatient Policies
  7. LGBT Patient Self-Identification

The survey totals between 25-30 questions. Seven of these questions are part of the “rating criteria”: the responses of individual survey respondents to these questions are made public in the annual HEI report. All other HEI questions are asked for informational purposes only, with responses to these non-rated questions made public only in aggregate form. See HEI Rating Criteria for more information.

What facilities are rated?

The Healthcare Equality Index rates individual hospitals and clinic/outpatient facilities as well as healthcare networks in the U.S.

How do facilities complete the survey?

Participating facilities submit their responses through a web-based survey. Each year, facility representatives are sent invitations to participate in the survey in October and surveys are due in late December. Multiple facility representatives may work on a survey and answers are saved allowing respondents to log-in as many times as needed to complete the survey. Staff members from the HRC Foundation provide additional assistance and advice throughout the process.

How do I get a facility rated?

  • Healthcare Facility Representatives: If you work at a healthcare facility in the U.S. and are authorized to represent your employer and its policies, please request an invitation for the next survey.
  • All Others: If you are not authorized to participate on a facility's behalf, please forward the appropriate contacts (typically Human Resources, Diversity, Staffing, Marketing or Communications professionals) with name, position, e-mail and mailing address to hei@hrc.org. We will make sure they receive an invitation to participate in the survey either in the current or approaching year. Please note that it is best for individuals internal to the organization to approach these contacts first, to educate them on the value of the HEI and to secure a commitment on their part to participate.

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