The University of Toledo Medical Center has been recognized as a 2017 “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for its commitment to the equal treatment of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning patients.

“We want all of our patients at The University of Toledo Medical Center to be in an environment that is welcoming and supports the overall healing and recovery process,” Dan Barbee, chief executive officer of UTMC, said. “To achieve this, we believe that patients, their families and loved ones need to be in a non-judgmental setting that promotes acceptance and allows a person to feel safe and protected to be their true self.”

UTMC is the only medical facility in northwest Ohio to earn this distinction and one of only 302 nationwide.

The designation was recently reported in the 10th edition of the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), reflecting on a decade of progress in LGBTQA+ health care. The HEI is sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQA+ equality. The annual survey consists of questions that determine whether a hospital meets the core requirements to become a leader. A record 590 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2017 survey. In addition to active survey participants, the HRC Foundation proactively researched key policies at more than 900 non-participating hospitals. Of all those included in the HEI, 302 earned a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation.