HSS Welcomes You
Diversity and Inclusion
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is committed to providing high-quality care and skilled, compassionate, reliable service to our community in a safe and healing environment. Consistent with this commitment, HSS admits and treats patients, and provides all care and services without regard to age, race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, veteran or military status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law or by accreditation standards.
Our Initiatives and Ongoing Education
HSS strives to deliver optimal care and services to all of our patients by adopting initiatives, behaviors, attitudes, and policies that enhance cultural competency and inclusion while serving a multicultural population. We believe that healthcare services that are respectful of and responsive to health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patients help to foster positive health outcomes.
HSS has been recognized as a “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” for the fourth consecutive year by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization in the US. We achieved high marks in the areas of nondiscrimination, LGBTQ education, training, and in our demonstration of commitment to equitable and inclusive care. Learn more
The 2018 designation was a part of HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index 2018, a unique annual survey that promotes equal care for LGBTQ Americans and recognizes healthcare institutions doing the best work to enhance their quality of life and experience.
We are proud of our organization-wide efforts to enhance awareness and clinical care practice specifically for LGBTQ populations through:
- Mandatory annual staff development trainings for all employees
- Gender identity and sexual orientation data collection to guide clinical care and assess quality
- Ongoing institutional policies that foster optimal and sensitive care for LGBTQ patients, their family members and loved ones
- An interdisciplinary LGBTQ Committee that addresses concerns and clinical care issues related to the LGBTQ population.
View some of our current educational initiatives:
- REL and Gender Identity Data Collection (English | Spanish | Russian | Chinese)
- Achieving Health Equity: Best Practices for Working with the LGBTQ Community in the Healthcare Setting
- Assessing and Addressing Health Literacy: A Critical Skill for the Healthcare Team to Improve Patient Outcomes
- Enhancing Clinical Skills in Caring for LGBT Clients in a Hospital Setting
- Understanding Implicit Bias and its Impact on Clinical Practice, Decision-Making and Achieving Optimal Health Outcomes
If you have any questions regarding community engagement and diversity initiatives please contact us.
Live in New York State and need health insurance?
You can apply for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and purchase a qualified health plan during open enrollment periods, or if you have a qualifying event. Download information on the Affordable Care Act. (English | >Spanish)
Related Policies
- HSS Policy of Nondiscrimination and Accessibility
- Patient and Parent Bill of Rights
- Patient Responsibilities
- Notice of Privacy Practices
- Medical Board Policy for LGBT Patients
Resources
- Visitor information
- Patient Information Guide
- Ratings, Rankings and Recognition
- Career Opportunities
- Community Resources
- Family-Focused Community Referral List (PDF)
Programs and Services
- Spiritual Care
- Communication Assistance
Services available for blind/visually impaired and deaf/hard-of-hearing:
- Braille documents
- Large-print documents
- Recorded pre-admission and discharge instructions
- Big-button phone
- American sign language (ASL) or certified deaf interpreters
- CART services: machine which captures speech and converts it to text
- TTY equipment (Text Telephone): machine which the patient uses to type a message to be relayed by phone via an operator
Language services include:
- Certified onsite interpreters
- Video conferencing: Web interpreters through Martti
- Telephonic interpreter services: Dual handset phones
- Document translation services
Please email Language Services or call 212.606.1760 for more information
- Domestic Travelers - Coast to Coast
- International Center
- Social Work Programs
- HSS Community Programs
The following programs are available to patients and the local community through the HSS Public & Patient Education Department:
- SNEAKER®: a nutrition and physical activity program for New York City children that provides education about healthy eating and the importance of staying active.
- Pediatric Outreach Program: a unique sports injury prevention program for middle school and high school athletes from diverse communities in New York City.
- Asian Community Bone Health Initiative (ACBHI): helps Asian seniors to stay active and better manage chronic bone and joint disease through culturally-relevant education and exercise programs.
- Greenberg Academy for Successful Aging: a collaborative program between HSS and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to offer health education programs aimed at the interests and needs of people age 65 and over.
- Community Outreach
The following programs are available to patients, family members, loved ones and members of the community through the HSS Social Work Programs Department: