PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 21, 2023) — Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has designated an additional five healthcare sites, including University of Rhode Island Health Services, as new LGBTQ Safe Zones, bringing the total number of sites to more than 110. Safe Zone designation by BCBSRI certifies that these sites have demonstrated care designed to meet the specific needs of LGBTQ patients.

URI’s Dr. Pauline B. Wood Health Services, which serves more than 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students, is the first university-based facility to become a BCBSRI Safe Zone. It offers a wide range of services, including ambulatory medical, psychiatric, pharmacy, laboratory, and sexual health, and collaborates with the university’s Gender and Sexuality Center for faculty and staff trainings and on-campus events.

Care New England, which already has achieved Safe Zone designation for some sites, added three more: the Wound Recovery & Hyperbaric Medicine Center and Spaulding Outpatient Center, both at Kent Hospital, and the Fertility Center at Women & Infants Hospital. 

Rounding out the group of new Safe Zones is From the Heart Nutrition, which is based in Providence and offers services related to eating disorder recovery, body image healing, and nutrition for infants, children, families, and athletes.

 “We’re thrilled to now have a university site among the ranks of our Safe Zones and even more pleased that it’s the largest institute of higher learning in the state. We also welcome three additional Care New England programs, expanding the breadth of Safe Zones located within Rhode Island’s largest health systems,” said Carolyn Belisle, managing director of corporate social responsibility at BCBSR. “We applaud all our new and continuing Safe Zones for being responsive to the unique needs of LGBTQ individuals. It’s not just respectful, it’s essential to quality and equitable healthcare for this historically underserved community.”

Jennifer Hodshon, director of URI Health Services, said, "The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island Safe Zone facility designation is important to University of Rhode Island Health Services because it recognizes our longstanding commitment to a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment of care for our diverse student population. URI Health Services has highly educated and skilled staff members who provide a nurturing environment for those with different identities, perspectives, and experiences, particularly those who may be stigmatized or marginalized. Health Services provides safe zone training for all employees.”

BCBSRI launched the Safe Zone program in 2016. Today there are 111 sites. Each must recertify annually to ensure they continue to meet program criteria. In 2023, nearly 70 Safe Zones recertified, reaffirming their commitment to LGBTQ inclusion and annual staff training.

Certification requirements for BCBSRI LGBTQ Safe Zones include staff training specific to the care of LGBTQ patients, protection for patients and staff from discrimination based on gender identity or expression, gender neutral bathrooms, inclusive forms and procedures, and a public commitment to connecting with and serving the LGBTQ community. 

BCBSRI solicits applications and designates new LGBTQ Safe Zones twice a year. To learn more about the program, or if you are a provider or care facility looking to become certified, visit the BCBSRI LGBTQ Safe Zone website.