Updated: 02/02/2015 4:17 PM Created: 02/02/2015 1:23 PM WNYT.com By: Benita Zahn

Saratoga Hospital is known for its inpatient and outpatient care. But it's especially proud of a unique honor -- recognition, twice by the Healthcare Equality Index as a "Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality" -- one of just 23 health care organizations in New York State to earn the distinction last year.

"We began to have open groups with our employees who were interested in the LGBT community. And we had a series of meetings and got their feedback with regards to what they saw as opportunities within our culture and where we could do better," explained Mary Jo LaPosta, senior vice president of patient care.

She says someone from the local Rainbow Access Initiative reached out to the hospital. That triggered a self-assessment of how the hospital was doing in providing care for the LGBT community.

That self-assessment yielded a cascade of ideas and suggestions generated by staffers. Some were simple, but with a profound effect on attitudes -- like gender-neutral rest rooms and reviewing how patients are identified.

"And it also starts even with the forms you have to fill out prior to seeing the doctor. If it says a certain thing, seeing your pediatrician [for example], instead of saying mother or father it will say parent or parent" said Amy Smith.

Amy and Caroline Smith are married with two young sons and say the changes helped make them feel more welcome at the hospital, where both babies were born.

"Lends a greater sense of credibility to what we need and that our health care needs are valid and important," said Caroline Smith.

The effort at inclusion is ongoing, says LaPosta, but there's still work to be done.

"I think we had experience in caring for the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, but I think we could argue we had work to do in meeting the unique needs of the transgendered community," she admitted.

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Supporting health care needs of the transgender community