Erie County Medical Center Corporation: A Leader in Healthcare Equality
At Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC), we believe that all patients deserve high quality of care delivered with compassion and respect, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Like all patients, we recognize that LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) individuals need high quality, culturally competent health care from providers who know, respect, and understand them. They need providers who know their unique health risks and understand how to provide appropriate referrals and counseling.
ECMCC is committed to providing affirmative, sensitive, and informed health care to the LGBTQ community. We have developed policies to include patient and employee non-discrimination, a guarantee of equal visitation for same-sex partners and parents, and LGBTQ health education for staff.
ECMCC’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion works to ensure that our LGBTQ patients receive respectful and compassionate health care.
Our Promise to the LGBTQ Community
Nondiscrimination
As an ECMC patient, LGBTQ individuals will be treated with the compassion and respect they deserve.
- ECMC’s patient policy is inclusive of nondiscrimination of sexual orientation and gender identity expression. (Learn more>>)
- ECMC’s visitation policy grants same-sex couples and parents the same access as different-sex couples and parents. (Learn more >>)
Definition of Family
ECMCC defines family as two or more people who are related biologically, legally, or emotionally. Same-sex partners are recognized as the patient’s family even if the partners are not legally married.
Health Care Proxy
New York State residents have the right to appoint a health care agent of their choice—including a same-sex partner—with a Health Care Proxy document. A “health care agent” is an adult who you have chosen to make decisions about your health care when you cannot do so. This person is also known as a health care proxy.
LGBTQ+ Point Person:
Cynthia R. Bass, MBA, CDM
Chief Diversity Officer
Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
(716) 898-3982
- YOU Center for Wellness
- Call (716) 898-4119
- Learn more>>
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Offering gender affirming surgeries
- Call 716-898-5530 Patient Navigator Learn more>>
- Surgeries Offered and Surgical Requirements
- What to expect before gender confirmation surgery
- Behavioral Health Clearance Letter Requirements for Patients Desiring Gender Affirming Surgery
- Primary Care
- Behavioral Health
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)
- Mental Health & Psychiatry
- Out Patient Behavioral Health Services
- Chemical Dependency Services
- Help Center
- Learn more>>
- Additional Resources
- How to change information on DMV documents Learn more>>
- TransEquality ID Document Change Learn more>>
- LGBT Health Care
- National LGBT Health Education Center Learn more>>
- Transgender Health Issues
- The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health Learn more>>
- Support for Families & Friends
- Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Learn more>>
- Smoking cessation assistance
- Smoking can result in poor healing, bad scars, and death of grafts and flaps. Surgery will not be performed in people who are smoking. If you need assistance quitting, you can contact 1-800-NYQUITS, or your primary care physician.
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