Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) Survey

Healthcare Equality Index 2024 logo

UCLA Health received a top score and the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” in a 2024 annual assessment by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The organization’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is a LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that looks at healthcare facilities' policies and practices related to the equitable treatment of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. 

“All patients, employees and visitors deserve to be treated equitably with respect and dignity,” said Medell Briggs-Malonson, MD, MPH, MSHS, Chief of Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the UCLA Health and associate professor of emergency medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “This recognition reflects our prioritization of practices, programs and policies that foster an inclusive and affirming environment for all and meet the unique needs of our LGBTQ+ patients, families and employees.”

Of the 1,065 healthcare facilities surveyed, UCLA Health was one of 384 to receive the maximum score in each of four areas and earn the equality leader designation:

  • Non-discrimination and staff training;
  • Patient services and support;
  • Employee benefits and policies; and,
  • Patient and community engagement 

UCLA Health has a breadth of LGBTQ+ affirming programs including the Gender Health Program, EMPWR Program, LGBTQ+ Champion designation for physicians, and an annual presence at community events including LA Pride and WeHo Pride. Through these efforts, UCLA Health continues to expand access, promote health and wellness, and advocate for high-quality, science-driven health care for everyone. See full news release

Electronic Health Records

UCLA Health is proud of our designation as a Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality. As a continuation of delivering safe, equitable, affirming and quality care to all of our patients, we are pleased to announce that our organization is one of the first in the nation to adopt systemwide electronic health record changes to support our LGBTQ+ patients.

Preferred name and preferred pronoun in electronic health records

Any patient can request a preferred name and pronoun be updated in our electronic health records. The request can come from a patient who prefers a nickname or from a patient whose gender identity does not match their legal identity.

The preferred name appears in patient headers, ADT labels, inpatient face sheets, ambulatory face sheets and the department appointments report (DAR). The preferred pronoun appears in patient headers and the DAR.

For front desk schedulers and patient access

For providers

Contact

Contact the LGBTQ+ Equitable Care Committee at [email protected] if you have any questions.

All-Gender Restrooms

In accordance with the University’s nondiscrimination policies, All-Gender Restrooms at UCLA are single stall facilities that seek to create an inclusive campus environment and enhance climate for transgender and gender variant people and many other populations. The standardized signage meets California building code while challenging traditional binary notions of gender.