Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies Earns Score of 95 in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Healthcare Equality Index

Orlando, FL (March 28, 2022) — Orlando Health Winnie Palmer has received an evaluation of 95 out of 100 and the designation of “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). For the last 15 years, the HEI has been 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 employees. A record 906 healthcare facilities actively participated in the 2022 HEI survey and only 251 of those earned an “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” designation. Orlando Health Winnie Palmer is one of only two facilities in Central Florida to receive this accolade.  

“As one of the largest women and baby facilities in the country, we care for our patients during some of their most memorable and intimate life moments,” said Kelly Nierstedt, president of Orlando Health Winnie Palmer and senior vice president of Orlando Health. “We’re proud to serve our LGBTQ+ community and want to ensure that everyone – from patients and their guests to hospital team members – feels safe and welcome just as they are.”  

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. 

“We are honored to receive this designation recognizing our commitment to inclusive and equitable care to our LGBTQ+ patients, guests and team members,” said Quibulah Graham, senior director of diversity & minority business development at Orlando Health. “We serve a diverse community in Central Florida and every person who comes through our doors deserves to be treated with respect, dignity and the absolute best care.” 

To view the full 2022 HEI report and results, visit hrc.org/hei.

Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies

Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies is a 350-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of women and babies. The hospital includes comprehensive fetal diagnostics and labor and delivery services, a regional center for neonatal intensive care, maternal intensive care and women’s services. Annually, more than 14,000 babies are expected to be born at Orlando Health Winnie Palmer, making it the busiest labor and delivery unit in the state of Florida. The hospital is also home to the state’s only in-utero surgery program to repair Spina bifida defects. To learn more, visit www.winniepalmerhospital.com.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation 

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.