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Riverside Community Hospital announces HCA Healthcare's top score on 2023 Disability Equality Index

Riverside Community Hospital July 20, 2023

Riverside, CA – Riverside Community Hospital, as a part of HCA Healthcare, today announced that HCA Healthcare has been named as a “Best Place to Work for Disability” by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest disability rights organization, and Disability: IN, the global business disability inclusion network to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. HCA Healthcare earned a top score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI) for its commitment to workplace inclusion.

In the United States, up to 1 in 4 people have a disability. Launched in 2015 by the AAPD and Disability:IN, the DEI provides companies with benchmarking scores ranging from 0-100 to help them build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. This year, 485 corporations utilized the DEI, 294 of which earned a top score of 100.

"These top-scoring companies understand deeply that people with disabilities represent a tremendous source of talent and innovation for their workforce and market share for their brands, and they are trailblazers in our journey towards full disability inclusion in business," said Maria Town, president and chief executive officer of AAPD.

The 2023 Disability Equality Index measured organizations for their disability inclusion efforts in the following categories:

  • Culture and leadership: Representation of disability in leadership roles and efforts to foster an inclusive workplace culture.
  • Enterprise-wide access: Accessibility of physical spaces, technologies and digital platforms.
  • Employment practices: Recruitment, hiring and retention practices, including accommodations, training and development opportunities and resource groups for people with disabilities.
  • Community engagement: Efforts to engage with and support the disability community through philanthropy, partnerships and advocacy initiatives.
  • Supplier diversity: Including disability-owned businesses in supply chain and procurement practices.

“Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of disability inclusion, and we’re thrilled to see more companies than ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a ‘Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion’ for their passion and efforts to lead the way in creating greater equity for people with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace, and supply chain,” said Jill Houghton, president and chief executive officer of Disability:IN.

HCA Healthcare is committed to supporting colleagues in their work, creating opportunities for connection and dialogue and developing diverse talent. Resources available to colleagues include:

  • Benefits coverage for hearing aids, vision care and mental wellness support for full and part-time colleagues.
  • The HCA Healthcare Diversability Colleague Network, designed to advance awareness and inclusion for colleagues with disabilities, as well as those who serve as caregivers or advocates for persons with disabilities.
  • BRAVE Conversations, a program provided to colleagues with opportunities to discuss complex topics through a safe, immersive dialogue experience.

In addition to fostering an inclusive workplace, HCA Healthcare strives to provide its patients with equitable access to care. HCA Healthcare facilities have established policies and procedures describing appropriate steps and accommodations available for people with disabilities, such as in the case of an evacuation. The Company’s internal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) teams regularly evaluate facilities to help the Company address accessibility concerns to remove barriers to receiving care. HCA Healthcare also has a dedicated team focused on digital accessibility to help make digital products and resources accessible. Additionally, HCA Healthcare provides free aids and services to help people with disabilities communicate effectively with caregivers, such as qualified sign language interpreters or written information in other formats such as large print, braille, audio and accessible electronic formats.