Parkland Hospital
The Human Rights Campaign has released its annual Healthcare Equality Index, and Dallas hospitals fared far better than they have in the past.
Parkland Health & Hospital System received HRC’s top rating for the fourth year in a row. Rated separately, all of its facilities throughout the county — like Amelia Court and other clinics — fared well.
The four categories rated are patient non-discrimination, visitation, employment non-discrimination and training. The rating for each were “yes,” “no” or “not applicable.”
The Dallas V.A. hospital also received HRC’s top rating.
UT Southwestern, Medical City, Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake and Green Oaks Hospital received positive ratings in every category except training.
Who ranked worst across the board? Methodist Hospital received the lowest rating, with a “no” in every category.
Baylor has non-discrimination in patient visitation, but may still fire you if you’re LGBT or not give you equal patient care. One of the few cases filed and won under the Dallas non-discrimination was against Baylor.
Presbyterian doesn’t have a patient non-discrimination policy, but does have visitation and employment policies in place.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized by the HRC Foundation. Parkland is committed to providing a safe, respectful and caring environment for everyone,” said Ildemaro Gonzalez, Parkland’s vice president and chief inclusion and diversity officer.
In Fort Worth, no hospital received top rating.
Cook Children’s Medical Center and Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth have policies in place without training.
Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth has a policy allowing visitation.
John Peter Smith, Tarrant County’s counterpart to Parkland, allows visitation, but doesn’t have non-discrimination policies for patients or employees.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth allows patient discrimination but has a nondiscrimination policy for its employees and visitors.
In Arlington, Medical Center of Arlington has all categories covered except training.
Baylor Medical Center at Irving lacks the same protections as the other hospitals in the Baylor system.
Las Colinas Medical Center in Irving and Medical Center of Plano only lack training.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano has no patient protections in place.
Across Texas, 13 hospitals or hospital systems received the highest rating. None in Oklahoma received that score.
