Rush University Medical Center Joins Sexual Assault Prevention Efforts

Rush is first in Illinois to Join TIME’S UP Healthcare National Campaign

Rush University Medical Center is increasing its efforts to bring safety, equity and dignity to the workplace as part of the TIME’S UP Healthcare (TUH) campaign. 

TIME’S UP Healthcare launched in March 2019.  It is one of the five initiatives of Time’s Up Foundation started by a group of women in the entertainment industry following the emergence of the #MeToo movement. 

Rush is the first and only academic medical center in Illinois and among 29 signatories that pledged their commitment to address workplace discrimination, harassment and abuse; and create equitable and safe cultures with the healthcare industry.

In addition to Rush, signatories include institutions such as Boston University, Brigham Women’s, Brown University, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and the Yale School of Medicine.

Dr. Pringl Miller, a general surgeon and hospice and palliative medicine specialist at Rush University Medical Center, is among the 50 founding members of TIME’S UP Healthcare.

“At Rush, it is essential that our diverse community of patients, families and employees all feel welcome, cared for and valued,” said Miller.  “We do not tolerate bias, harassment or discrimination of any kind. Supporting the mission of TIME’S UP Healthcare aligns with our core values, and we’re proud to endorse these efforts.”

The founding members are working with partners to advocate for and create change in the healthcare workforce by driving new policies and decisions that result in more balanced, diverse and accountable leadership. 

The core statements of TIME’S UP Healthcare state that sexual harassment and gender inequity have no place in the workplace and that the health care system must be committed to preventing sexual harassment and gender inequity, as well as protecting and aiding those who are targets of harassment and discrimination.

“With our signature, Rush commits our alignment with the core principles of Time’s Up Healthcare,” said Dr. Sheila Dugan, professor and chair of the Rush Women’s Leadership Council. “We will continue to develop and set structures, processes, outcomes and policies of a safe respectful and equitable workplace.”

“Every employee should have equitable opportunity, support and compensation,” said Dugan. “We will measure and track sexual harassment and gender-based inequities occurring in our institution.”

“An important goal for TIME’S UP Healthcare is also to provide educational materials for training those in healthcare on how to combat gender inequity and sexual harassment,” said Miller.

According to Miller, when a healthcare system becomes a signatory of TIME’S UP Healthcare, they pledge a commitment to the main tenants of the campaign.

Part of the signatory letter signed by Dr. Ranga Krishnan, CEO of Rush System for Health, Dr. Omar Lateef, CEO of Rush University Medical Center, and Dr. Sherine Gabriel, President of Rush University states that “we cannot address an issue without understanding its scope and its impact.” In order to do this, they wrote, with our signature we commit our alignment with these outlined core principles of TIME’S UP Healthcare.”  

According to TIME’S UP Healthcare, one of the reasons that many of the initial 50 founders became involved in the initiative was the publication of a variety of high-profile manuscripts in top medical journals about gender equity and sexual assault within the healthcare industry. In mid-February, The Lancet, a weekly peer-reviewed medical journal, dedicated an entire issue to sexual harassment and gender inequity in the healthcare workforce. 

About TIME’S UP Healthcare TIME’S UP Healthcare is made up of women of all kinds from diverse backgrounds and specialties ranging from emergency medicine to psychiatry. Its founders and leaders represent a wide spectrum of healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, physician assistants, clinical pharmacists and more, steadfast in the shared goal of improving gender equity and decreasing the burden of sexual harassment in healthcare. In recognition of the fact that problems of gender inequity and sexual harassment affect all healthcare workers, TIME’S UP Healthcare organizers are committed to unifying professionals across fields and engaging and supporting organizations and individuals at every level of healthcare delivery.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/rush-university-medical-center-joins-sexual-assault-prevention-efforts