Atlantic Health System Public Relations Department
Luke Margolis
Every Atlantic Health medical center earns perfect score
April 8, 2022, Morristown, NJ – Atlantic Health System is proud to share that six of its hospitals earned the coveted “LGBTQ+ Health Care Equality Leader” designation and a top score of 100 on the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). This is the fourth consecutive time all of Atlantic Health System’s medical centers (Morristown, Overlook, Newton, Chilton and Hackettstown medical centers and Goryeb Children’s Hospital) earned this designation. Atlantic Health System locations make up almost 20 percent of all the facilities in New Jersey to earn a perfect score.
Now in its 15th year, the Healthcare Equality Index is part of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey of healthcare facilities on policies and practices dedicated to the equitable treatment and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors, and team members.
“Atlantic Health System is dedicated to the belief that every patient, visitor and team member is deserving of a welcoming and inclusive health care environment,” said Armond Kinsey, Chief Diversity Officer, Atlantic Health System. “The HEI is about more than just believing in equitable treatment for all, it is about doing the work to make that care accessible, the spaces safe from discrimination, and provide interactions where patients are respected and heard. Four consecutive award periods of perfect scores sends the powerful message that we are here for every member of our community.”
The HEI uses scoring criteria that focus on foundational non-discrimination policies as well as a variety of policies and practices to promote LGBTQ+ patient-centered care. New last year was the additional requirement that healthcare facilities provide transgender-inclusive health insurance to their employees in order to receive a top score.
The HEI evaluates and scores healthcare facilities on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:
- Foundational Policies and Training in LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care;
- LGBTQ+ Patient Services and Support;
- Employee Benefits and Policies; and,
- Patient and Community Engagement.
Atlantic Health System has also been named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for 13 consecutive years, a Best Place to Work for Women, a Best Place to Work for Diversity and has also been named to Modern Healthcare’s Best Places To Work list.
About Atlantic Health System
Atlantic Health System is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of more than 18,000 team members and 4,800 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health System serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 12 counties and 5.5 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 400 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.
Atlantic Medical Group, comprised of 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers, represents one of the largest multi-specialty practices in New Jersey and joins Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners as part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health System provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 23 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Atlantic Health System leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.
Atlantic Health System has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.