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Learn MoreThis blog post is based on a recent Webinar with Sarah Bender, Health Equity Strategist and Consultant.
The patient experience is not necessarily the same for everyone. The social and institutional inequalities facing the LGBTQ communities extend to healthcare settings as well.
Social Factors and Structural Inequalities Help Create Health and Healthcare Disparities
Members of LGBTQ communities have historically lacked certain legal protections which, in many cases, lead to higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, poverty, and a lack of family support. These issues can create barriers to both wellness and access to healthcare. It may also lead to a reluctance on the part of members of LGBTQ communities to seek preventative healthcare. The fear of discrimination or a previous difficult or uncomfortable healthcare experience may also contribute to these disparities.
Be Particularly Aware of the Youngest and Oldest Amongst This Patient Population
If an LGBTQ teen is estranged from their family because their family is unwilling to accept them, it can lead to a cycle that may result in some significant health issues. The cycle may start with homelessness, which can result in lower educational levels. This in turn can lead to higher levels of unemployment and may also lead to other high-risk behaviors including a much higher than average rate of suicide.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are the frequently-overlooked LGBTQ elders. A lack of culturally competent providers can create unique barriers for this group. Bender also shared reports of LGBTQ elders having to “go back into the closet” in some healthcare settings such as assisted living facilities. “This can result in the LGBTQ elder community experiencing severe isolation, anxiety, and depression.”
Missed Opportunities – Inequities in Health Screenings and Access
The fear of having a negative experience may keep many people out of the doctor’s office, but this appears to be a somewhat larger issue for the LGBTQ communities. For example, lesbian and bisexual women are considerably less likely than their heterosexual counterparts to get basic and potentially life-saving cancer screenings. There is also evidence that gay and bisexual men have a higher risk of HIV and other STDs than heterosexual men. These numbers are even higher for men of color. A recent study (2015) from The National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce reports that 19 percent of respondents reported being denied healthcare due to their gender identity.
How Do LGBTQ Patients Describe Their Patient Experience?
Once a member of the LGBTQ community overcomes their concerns about discrimination or their reluctance based on a bad previous experience, what do they encounter in the healthcare setting? Are healthcare providers really providing an affirming experience or is the experience itself creating a barrier to good health? It appears that the answer may be a difficult one for us to acknowledge based on the following perceptions. LGBTQ patients report that they:
These Problems May Be Somewhat More Acute for Transgender Patients
Transgender patients may report all of the above experiences, but perhaps have an even steeper hill to climb than other members of these communities. They may be called by the wrong name or hear staff using an incorrect pronoun, they may be denied access to a room that is appropriate to their gender, they may be asked to “prove” their gender, and they may simply be refused medical care. In many cases, they will need to educate providers on their unique healthcare needs and have difficulty obtaining life-saving, sex-specific screenings.
Watch and Listen to the full Webinar here.
HealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All Learning & PerformanceHealthStream offers performance learning management solutions to help develop your healthcare staff into leaders and reduce turnover.
View All ProductsHealthStream works with healthcare organizations to create engaging and high-quality training videos for your staff and management.
View All ProductsImprove care quality and save money by making informed decisions about your healthcare facility and staff with HealthStream's reporting analytics solution.
View All ProductsHealthStream's proven methods for the improvement and overall engagement of your healthcare staff foster a positive workplace and increase retention rates.
View All ProductsWhen you enact HealthStream's quality compliance solutions, you can do so with the confidence your healthcare organization will meet all standards of care.
View All Quality & ComplianceBe confident in your staff’s ability to reduce risk by providing compliance training that changes behavior.
View All ProductsDevelop next-level people for next-level care by prioritizing quality and safety improvements.
View All ProductsStandardize policy and procedure management with an automated, customized, and centralized system.
View All ProductsEstablish a culture of belonging with education supporting DEI, wellness, engagement, and leadership development.
View All ProductsHealthStream offers professional training and education on how to best optimize your reimbursement process within your healthcare organization.
View All ReimbursementStreamline the revenue cycle management process and protect your bottom line with expert-backed education.
View All ProductsLearn about our advanced resuscitation training solutions. Our solutions are designed to help improve patient outcomes.
View All ResuscitationIn all areas of resuscitation, from neonatal to elderly care, clinical deterioration is a risk that can be avoided with the help of HealthStream's training programs.
View All ProductsNurture the skills of your nurses and medical staff to help mold them into effective leaders with development training from HealthStream.
View All ProductsExpand the decision-making skills and effectiveness of your healthcare workforce with HealthStream's clinical development programs and services.
View All Clinical DevelopmentMake sure your clinicians have the support they need to provide competent care with clinical competency training and development from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All ProductsThe suite of healthcare onboarding solutions available from HealthStream aids in nurse retention and improved patient outcomes.
View All ProductsGive your healthcare staff the decision support and skills training they need with the online products available from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream leverages medical professional development in healthcare by providing staff training programs
View All ProductsComprehensive, industry-leading provider onboarding and credentialing software that validate health outcomes and support provider assessment.
View All CredentialingOur affordable CVO credentialing services establish patient safety by enabling primary source verification for your healthcare organization.
View All ProductsIntegrate with Epic to validate and add new providers directly to your provider master file.
View All ProductsMake sure your healthcare staff can schedule out appointments and work schedules with ease using HealthStream's line of software solutions.
View All SchedulingHealthcare workforce management is essential. We provide advanced scheduling solutions for organizations to solve issues such as nurse retention
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