(Washington) The healthcare industry is failing LGBT patients, according to a report released Tuesday by the Human Rights Campaign and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

“While many facilities are leading the way in fairness for LGBT patients and their families, on the whole, the healthcare industry is failing to adequately address the needs of our community,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese.  

“But tools like the [ Healthcare Equality Index] can turn this trend around.  By helping to remove barriers and create truly welcoming healthcare environments, we can build a stronger, healthier community.”

The report said that there is “a dramatic disparity between the number of patient non-discrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation and those inclusive of gender identity.” 

 Less than seven percent of participating facilities protect patients from discrimination based on gender identity, while nearly three-quarters of participants provide these protections based on sexual orientation, the report said. 

This finding is symptomatic of the healthcare discrimination faced by transgender Americans every day, from the explicit denial of healthcare services to insensitive remarks by medical staff, the report’s authors said in a press statement accompanying it.

“Tragically, the importance of protecting transgender patients and their families from healthcare discrimination is made clear to us time and time again when we hear stories of discrimination,” said transgender health advocate and HEI Advisory Council Member Dr. Rebecca Allison, a cardiologist practicing in Arizona.

“As healthcare providers, we have the responsibility to ensure that all of our patients are given the culturally competent care they need and the respect they deserve.  The policies and practices highlighted by the HEI provide a starting point for ensuring transgender competence.”

Ten of the 166 healthcare participants answered positively to each of the survey’s main criterion which applied to them. The study authors said it will help establish a set of model policies that will serve the entire healthcare industry. 

“We believe the growing level of participation we’re seeing by hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country reflects a genuine interest in the healthcare industry to better understand and address the specific needs of LGBT patients.” said Jason Schneider, MD, President of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. 

The study included questions about visitation policies, training in LGBT issues and employment non-discrimination policies.

” Unfortunately, LGBT individuals come forward with tragic stories of hospitals failing to recognize these directives, reflecting a disconnect between the existence of written policies and the actual implementation of these policies on the part of all personnel,” the study said. 

The report is based on responses to an online survey, conducted October through December 2008.  The responses represent the policies of 166 facilities from across the country, including 93 hospitals and 73 clinics.