Twenty-six UPMC facilities, including UPMC Passavant in Cranberry Township, have been recognized for LGBTQ care policies and practices by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which is the education arm of the country’s largest civil rights organization for the LGBTQ community.

Of these hospitals, 10 have been designated as “Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” and 16 have been recognized as “Top Performers.”

The designations were reported Aug. 31 in the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), an annual survey that scores facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees.

Facilities awarded the Leader title meet criteria in four key areas: LGBTQ patient-centered care; LGBTQ patient services and support; employee benefits and policies; and LGBTQ patient and community engagement.

In addition to UPMC Passavant in Cranberry, hospitals designated as HEI Leaders are: UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital; UPMC McKeesport; UPMC Passavant in McCandless; UPMC Pinnacle Carlisle; UPMC Pinnacle Community Osteopathic; UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg; UPMC Pinnacle West Shore; UPMC St. Margaret; and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital.

Facilities awarded the “Top Performer” title also met criteria in the same key areas as leaders, but received slightly lower scores, indicating room for improvement and growth.

More information and a full copy of the report are available on the HRC website.