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Christiana Care hospitals recognized for LGBTQ health care

Delaware Public Media

Christiana Care Health System’s Newark and Wilmington hospitals have been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as leaders in health care equality for the LGBTQ population.

Based on factors like LGBTQ patient services and employee benefits, Christiana Care’s two hospitals were recognized for health care equality for a seventh year in a row. More than 400 health care facilities around the nation received this honor.

 

“It’s important for us to be a model for the state and the region on how this can be done in the best possible way,” said Christiana Care’s Coordinator for LGBTQ Health Initiatives Tim Rodden.

 

Christiana Care works hard to attend to the needs of LGBTQ patients and staff, he said.

 

“We are particularly focused in that area on making sure in making sure we have the bandwidth, the training of personnel and staff and providers that can provide the most sensitive and respectful care,” Rodden said.

 

Rodden says that’s important for a community that in the past did not always receive an open welcome from health care.

 

Christiana Care employees can get transgender services in their health benefits, while many other health systems still do not provide that for employees, Rodden said. Transgender employees to do hormone therapy with their health insurance through the system.

 

The health care provider adopted policies about treatment in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity before the state passed a nondiscrimination law in 2013, Rodden said.

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