The Human Rights Campaign Foundation has published its annual Healthcare Equity Index and awarded its "2019 LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation to UW Medicine's four hospitals. Each UW Medicine hospital received a perfect score of 100 on this year's survey, which assessed participants on four criteria: non-discrimination and staff training, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement.

The Healthcare Equality Index was first published in 2007 to evaluate the policies and practices of healthcare facilities related to the equity and inclusion of LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. Harborview Medical Center and UW Medical Center have received the "LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader" designation every year since 2011. Valley Medical Center has been recognized annually since 2012, and Northwest Hospital has been an annual recipient since 2013.

For more information, visit Healthcare Equity Index