The designation from the Human Rights Campaign affirms Providence Swedish's commitment to advancing compassionate, equitable, whole-person care in an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and valued.
Five Providence Swedish hospitals (First Hill, Cherry Hill, Edmonds, Ballard and Issaquah) have once again received the designation of High Performer on the Human Rights Campaign’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) for LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality.
The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) is the national LGBTQ+ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities' policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2026 evaluates nearly 2,300 healthcare facilities nationwide.
"This recognition affirms the intentional work of our caregivers and leaders to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and valued," said Lisa Hawley, Providence Swedish chief mission integration officer. "By advancing compassionate, equitable, whole-person care and cultivating a culture of belonging, we are helping make Providence Swedish the best place to receive care and the best place to provide it."
Providence Swedish is proud to offer care and support for our transgender and gender diverse patients, including gender-affirming care. Established in 2020 as an initiative, Swedish’s LGBTQIA+ Program uses a holistic approach to improve access to comprehensive health care that connects patients directly with experienced care teams and resources.
"HRC's Healthcare Equality Index provides a framework for healthcare institutions working to create an inclusive and safe environment for LGBTQIA+ community seeking healthcare services," said Kevin Wang, M.D., medical director for Providence Swedish LGBTQIA+ Program. "Despite the current political environment, Providence Swedish works to build upon this framework by solidifying our commitment to serving our LGBTQIA+ community through its efforts in relationship building with LGBTQIA+ community-based organizations and leaders, expanding healthcare services including gender-affirming hair removal and long-acting injectable HIV PrEP in the primary care setting, solidifying care management and navigation services, educating our next generation of healthcare clinicians, and influencing Swedish's strategic plans."
In addition to patient care, the Swedish LGBTQIA+ Program provides specialized clinical support to our care teams to ensure our caregivers are up to date on the latest advancements and can deliver optimal care for our LGBTQIA+ patients.
"Even amid extraordinary pressure, many healthcare institutions are continuing to show up for LGBTQ+ patients and staff," said Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign. "Doctors want to take care of their patients in the best way they can. Even so, disinformation campaigns driven by a small minority of politicians who use trans youth as a scapegoat for their own failures and who are dismantling HIV care are having a real impact on people’s lives. It’s vital for all LGBTQ+ people to get the most accurate information we have on access to care across the country, and we are proud of the ways in which the HEI helps the community understand this.”
About Providence Swedish
Providence Swedish has served the Puget Sound region since the first Providence hospital opened in Seattle in 1877 and the first Swedish hospital opened in 1910. The two organizations affiliated in 2012 and today comprise the largest health care delivery system in Western Washington, with 24,000 caregivers, eight hospitals and 244 clinics throughout Western Washington – from Everett to Centralia. A not-for-profit family of organizations, Providence Swedish provides more than $545 million in community benefit in the Puget Sound region each year. The health system offers a comprehensive range of services and specialty and subspecialty care in a number of clinical areas, including cancer, cardiovascular health, neurosciences, orthopedics, digestive health and women’s and children’s care. For more information, visit providence.org/swedish.
Vinny Fox, senior program coordinator at Providence Swedish, added, “As we see ongoing attempts to strip LGBTQIA+ people of their rights and ban transgender people from accessing lifesaving gender affirming care, Swedish has stood by its commitment to care for this community. Being recognized again by the HRC HEI as a High Performer highlights the work caregivers have done to live up to our mission of improving the health and wellbeing of ALL the people we serve.”
