32 New Jersey hospitals earn Equality Leader status from HRC

The 2024 LGBTQ+ Health Equality Index ranks 32 New Jersey hospitals at 100 percent. Only California and New York had more locations and they are much larger in geographic size and total population.

California had 98 hospitals at the top and New York had 81. Pennsylvania came close with 30 locations ranked at 100 percent.

“We are proud to be leading the way in New Jersey in providing healthcare services for the LGBTQ+ community,” said Suzette Robinson, RWJBarnabas Health Vice President, Corporate Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in a news release. “RWJBarnabas Health remains committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect, and ensuring all patients feel welcomed and able to get the high-quality care they need and deserve at all stages of their life.”

RWJBarnabas facilities in the Garden State achieved the 100 percent rating on the HEI index.

The index is the national LGBTQ benchmarking tool that the Human Rights Campaign uses to evaluate healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and hospital employees. 

More than 1,000 facilities participated in the 2024 HEI survey. Overall about 36 percent did achieve Equality Leader status.

The HEI ranks hospitals in five areas: Non-discrimination and staff training; patient services and support; employee benefits and policies; patient and community engagement; and responsible citizenship.

Below is the full list of 2024 LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leaders in New Jersey:

The study is done yearly by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.