Sutter Health Recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sutter Health has been named a leader in LGBTQ health care equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization.

Twenty Sutter hospitals and two Sutter medical foundations earned LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader recognition and will keep their title for two years.

"When you work and receive care in an environment that is welcoming and inclusive, it can help change and save lives," said Sutter Health President and CEO Warner Thomas. "Sutter Health is committed to treating our LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, employees and clinicians equitably, with compassion and respect."

Sutter's commitment is especially important in light of findings from a 2023 Center for American Progress (CAP) survey. The CAP found that more than one in five LGBTQ+ adults postponed or avoided medical care in the past year due to feeling disrespected or discriminated against by providers.[1]

"Our goal at Sutter Health isn't only to make sure our patients and our people know they are safe and supported, but also to lead by example," said Sutter Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Dana Beckton. "As a health care system with a mission to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities - all our communities - this recognition is both meaningful on its own and as a sign to keep going in our work to be the best place to provide and receive care."

To be eligible for recognition, organizations responded to a rigorous survey that asked about employment and patient care policies, procedures and practices. Applicants had to demonstrate how they help LGBTQ+ patients and their families feel protected and affirmed by their health care providers. They were also asked to show how the organization fosters a sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ employees. Only those that earned the maximum score of 100 were awarded the Leader designation.

Highlights from Sutter's survey include:

• LGBTQ+ care & services website: Sutter provides patient navigation and dedicated gender care advocates for LGBTQ+ patients and displays these resources on the web at https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/lgbtqi.
• Respect for patients' self-identifying information: Sutter's medical records system includes a patient's sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pronouns and chosen name. This practice can help prevent misgendering or sex-stereotyping and foster a more tailored and positive health care experience.
• Referral specialists: Sutter provides referral specialists to connect patients with LGBTQ+ or trans-friendly doctors in different fields of medicine, such as surgery obstetrics or ear, nose and throat. Patients may also be referred to one of three clinics in the Sutter system that offer focused care for LGBTQ+ patients.
• Training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care: Sutter invests in continuing education as a core part of developing employees throughout their careers. Sutter staff and clinicians have the option to receive training that covers the basics of LGBTQ+ patient-centered care and cultural competency. They can also receive more specialized instruction in topics like transgender health and working with LGBTQ+ families in a healthcare environment. Sutter employees and providers completed more than 600 hours of LGBTQ+ medical training in 2023.
• Employee and community engagement: Sutter has an active Pride resource group, with more than 400 employee-members. The group plays an important role in workplace wellness, culture change and community service projects. In addition to helping plan opportunities for Sutter staff and clinicians to participate in 13 Pride events this year, these volunteers focus on aspects of business operations that should be updated to embrace different sexual orientations and gender identities.

The Sutter hospitals and medical foundations that earned the LGBTQ Health Care Equality Leader designation in the 2024-25 Healthcare Equality Index include:

• Sutter's Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Berkeley and Oakland campuses
• Sutter Amador Hospital
• Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
• Sutter's California Pacific Medical Center, Van Ness, Mission Bernal and Davies campuses
• Sutter Center for Psychiatry
• Sutter Coast Hospital
• Sutter Davis Hospital
• Sutter Delta Medical Center
• Sutter's Eden Medical Center
• Sutter Lakeside Hospital
• Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center of Santa Cruz
• Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
• Sutter Medical Foundation
• Sutter's Memorial Hospital Los Banos
• Sutter's Memorial Medical Center
• Sutter's Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
• Sutter's Novato Community Hospital
• Sutter Palo Alto Medical Foundation
• Sutter Roseville Medical Center
• Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital
• Sutter Solano Medical Center
• Sutter Tracy Community Hospital

The entire Healthcare Equality Index report can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/hei.

[1] https://www.americanprogress.org/article/discrimination-and-barriers-to-well-being-the-state-of-the-lgbtqi-community-in-2022/