Leads the highest ranking in the Healthcare Equality Index 2022, upheld by our website, as stated by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

The UCLA Health system, a renowned institution in the field of healthcare, has been honoured as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). This prestigious designation recognizes healthcare facilities that have shown a commitment to providing equitable, affirming, and inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients.

The UCLA Health system comprises several key entities, including the UCLA Vine Street Clinic Link, the UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education, the UCLA EMPWR Program, the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, and the HIV Prevention and HIV Vaccine Trials Networks.

One of the initiatives that sets UCLA Health apart is its focus on person-centered and shared decision-making care. This approach empowers providers to build trust with LGBTQ+ patients, ensuring sensitive procedures like cervical cancer screening are approached with openness and respect. By levelling power disparities and allowing patients to actively participate in their care decisions, this approach fosters long-term relationships of trust.

UCLA Health also prioritizes explicit LGBTQ+ inclusion and allyship. The institution has established policies and visible support for LGBTQ+ individuals, such as creating LGBTQ+ employee resource groups, ensuring gender-neutral restrooms, and promoting an inclusive environment overall. These tangible actions help LGBTQ+ staff and patients feel welcomed and respected.

Comprehensive education on LGBTQ+ history, challenges, and best practices is provided for all staff levels, including leadership, to reduce unconscious bias, increase ability to be effective allies, and improve support for LGBTQ+ patients and employees in clinical and workplace settings.

Community power and shared governance for marginalized groups is another key focus. UCLA Health centres the leadership of transgender people and people of colour (TPOC) through paid advisory boards with real decision-making authority. This ensures that policies and practices reflect the needs and dignity of LGBTQ+ and intersectionally minoritized populations.

Many designated facilities, including UCLA Health, hold additional accolades such as Magnet recognition, signalling excellence in nursing and patient care that complements their LGBTQ+ affirming efforts.

Dr. Amy K. Weimer, MD, co-founder and medical director of the Gender Health Program, stated that visible signs of inclusivity, like the HEI designation, make patients feel safe and welcomed. The Gender Health Program, established in 2016, provides comprehensive services for transgender and gender-diverse patients of all ages.

More than 50 providers at UCLA Health are designated as "LGBTQ+ Champions," physicians who have specialized training and experience in caring for LGBTQ+ patients. The UCLA EMPWR Program connects patients and families to an expert mental health care team.

The UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education provides state-of-the-art medical care and conducts clinical trials for people living with HIV and AIDS. The UCLA Vine Street Clinic Link is part of the HIV Prevention and HIV Vaccine Trials Networks and conducts research on new HIV prevention methods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it partnered with Moderna to conduct a Phase-3 trial of their mRNA vaccine.

In 2018, UCLA Health became one of the first in the nation to adopt a system-wide electronic health record that captured preferred names and pronouns. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) recognized UCLA Health as a "LGBTQ++ Healthcare Equality Leader" on March 28, 2022. Additional resources for providers can be found on the UCLA Health website, along with information about the Gender Health Program and the Simms/Mann UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, which provides resources for LGBTQ+ cancer patients and their families.

[1] M. J. B. King, L. M. H. King, and A. E. Greene, "The Advocate's Guide to LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness," 2019, pp. 124-127.

[2] J. A. Schneider, "The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Healthcare Equality Index," 2021.

[3] A. K. Weimer, "The Role of LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Healthcare," 2020.

[4] A. K. Weimer, "Transforming Healthcare for Transgender Patients," 2019.

[5] J. A. Schneider, "The Future of LGBTQ+ Healthcare," 2022.

Leads the highest ranking in the Healthcare Equality Index 2022, upheld by our website, as stated by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.