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Health & Wellness
Mayo Clinic’s three largest campuses completed a joint submission to the Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 Health Equality Index (HEI) survey and achieved the highest score possible. Together, the Arizona, Florida, and Rochester campuses were collectively recognized as Leaders in LGBTQ+ Healthcare. Of the more than 1000 hospitals participating, only 384 achieved the top score and the leader designation.
Forming an enterprise HEI survey workgroup, LGBTI+ Mayo Employee Resource Group (MERG) leaders from each site and Mayo Clinic’s Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity worked together for six months to ensure more than 100 survey questions were accurately answered on the 2024 HEI.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest civil rights organization in the U.S. working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. HRC uses its biennial HEI survey to provide thousands of US-based healthcare organizations an opportunity to benchmark their policies and procedures that support LGBTI+ patients, staff, and communities. Each year, the expectations evolve to require focused reviews on equitable policies and practices, non-discrimination and staff training, patient services and support, staff benefits and community engagement.
“In many ways, Mayo Clinic’s LGBTI+ staff are exemplary for fostering a sense of belonging within the workplace,” said Dr. Anjali Bhagra, medical director of the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity. “When our LGBTI+ staff feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work it has a positive ripple effect for their colleagues and patients alike.”
The 2024 HEI was the first time Mayo Clinic completed a combined submission for Arizona, Florida and Rochester. This new submission process meant that each of the LGBTI+ MERGs and the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity had to come together to jointly examine the policies, practices and internal/external programs that support LGBTI+ patients and staff at each site.
While the LGBTI+ MERG enterprise HEI survey workgroup is excited by this year’s top score, the team will continue to regularly meet ahead of the 2026 HEI submission to ensure forward progress to meet and exceed the elevated standards for the next survey.
