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Christiana Care Health System has again been recognized as a leader in LGBTQ health care equality. Christiana Hospital and Wilmington Hospital were the only health care facilities in Delaware to be designated 2019 LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leaders – the highest recognition from the Healthcare Equality Index. Created by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the Healthcare Equality Index is a tool to compare hospitals based on their policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. “At Christiana Care, we serve our neighbors, guided by our values, Love and Excellence,” said Christiana Care President and CEO Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH. “Our continued commitment to meeting the needs of our LGBTQ neighbors is about treating everyone with respect and dignity—and it’s also about delivering high-quality, safe care. We are privileged to serve our LGBTQ patients, and we are privileged to partner with our LGBTQ caregivers in delivering award-winning care.” This is the eighth year in a row that Christiana Care’s hospitals have received this honor. Only 406 health care institutions nationwide achieved Leader status, out of more than 1,600 facilities surveyed. Christiana Care earned the designation through its policies and practices across five main criteria evaluated by the index: • Non-discrimination and staff training. • Patient services and support. • Employee benefits and policies. • Patient and community engagement. • Responsible citizenship. To receive Leader status, a facility must score 100 out of 100 on these measures. “From our visitation policies to employee benefits to community engagement, we’ve looked for opportunities to help our LGBTQ patients and staff feel valued and respected,” said Timothy D. Rodden, MDiv, MA, BCC, FACHE, system coordinator of LGBTQ Health Initiatives. “We believe that promoting LGBTQ equity, guided by our values of Love and Excellence, is part of embracing our patients’ diversity and being their partners in health.” MORE: To hear Christiana Care employees share their “It Gets Better” stories in their own words, please watch our video. To learn more about Christiana Care’s LGBTQ health initiatives, visit: https://christianacare.org/services/lgbtqhealth/. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation improves the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people by working to increase understanding and encourage the adoption of LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. About Christiana Care Health System Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, Christiana Care is one of the country’s most dynamic health systems, centered on improving health outcomes, making high-quality care more accessible and lowering health care costs. Christiana Care includes an extensive network of outpatient services, home health care, medical aid units, two hospitals (1,227 beds), a Level I trauma center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. Christiana Care is a not-for-profit teaching health system with more than 260 residents and fellows. We are continually ranked by US News & World Report as a Best Hospital. With our unique, data-powered care coordination service and a focus on population health and value-based care, Christiana Care is shaping the future of health care. Learn how we deliver greater quality and value at https://christianacare.org/.