Health Dynamics

Health Dynamics in the LGBTQ+ Community

The LGBTQ+ community includes people of all diversities, in all walks of life, young and old. Each letter in the LGBTQ acronym represents a unique category of people that require vastly unique healthcare needs.

The environment you surround yourself with is crucial for maintaining a healthy state of mind. People who are uplifting, positive, and bring you joy are crucial to seek out. Activities, hobbies, and even pets can provide comfort or contribute to an optimistic environment. Most importantly, if you are feeling alone or down speak with someone in your life you trust and remain hopeful!

The Importance of LGBTQ+ Healthcare Awareness

Much like other healthcare specialties, there are physicians and health professionals dedicated to LGBTQ+ care. This health field is growing, with research designed to improved health-related outcomes for individuals falling into sexual and gender minorities.

In 2016, the National Institute for Minority Health (a group dedicated to health research striving to improve care in underrepresented populations) recognized the LGBT community as an area deserving research focus. There is a shortfall in healthcare targeted towards individuals of the LGBT community, currently organizations are pushing for data collection and research to better understand healthcare related experiences. The various organizations are continuing to work on increasing accessibility of healthcare for individuals of the LGBTQ+ community.

Having the ability to freely express human sexuality and behaviors results in a positive overall sense of well-being, and can lead to alternative health consequences. It is important to address barriers that affect your ability to seek help and overcome negativity in a healthcare-based environment.

Individuals of the LGBTQ+ community are at a higher risk for health conditions such as suicide, depression, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS. It is important to be aware of, and feel comfortable discussing health concerns with your healthcare provider.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Providers

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the largest nationwide organization supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights. They developed the Healthcare Equality Index which promotes unbiased and inclusive care for members of the LGBTQ community and designed the program to help individuals find LGBTQ-friendly healthcare.

The focus of the program is to increase healthcare facility staff members’ understanding and awareness of LGBTQ+ health and inclusivity needs. They incorporated these key fundamentals:

• General practices for LGBTQ equality and inclusion

• LGBTQ patient-centered care

• Online on-demand training

• Strive to increase patient satisfaction

• Ensure legal compliance

• Improved safety and quality

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In 2011 sexual orientation and gender identity were added to the non-discriminatory policy standards enacted in healthcare facilities. With additional strives made towards establishing unbiased visitor allowance in healthcare settings regardless of sexual preference or gender identification.

Even with the tremendous strides occurring in LGBTQ recognition, basic healthcare necessities are still lacking for individuals of the community who often feel discriminated against and vulnerable in healthcare facilities, schools, communities, or their workplaces. The awareness the HRC foundation is establishing is important to all communities, but is of an increased necessity in states and areas lacking non-discrimination against LGBTQ citizens.

Data Collection

Data collection is an important part of the process towards understanding the gaps in healthcare treatment. Allowance of individuals to fully represent themselves also provides an opportunity to discuss appropriate health issues, receive necessary preventative screenings, and address health concerns.

The data research program is called the Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) and is run by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation who uses the collected data to assess hospitals ability to achieve LGBTQ-inclusion policies. They based the study criteria around four major outcomes of LGBTQ patient-centered care and include:

• An LGBTQ patient non-discriminatory policy

• An LGBTQ-inclusive visitation policy

• A non-discriminatory LGBTQ-inclusive employment policy

• Staff training for LGBTQ-centered care

Since 2016, participating facilities were achieving near perfect inclusion of the first three policies, and as of this past year, 92% of participants met the staff training hours which is an achievement of over 70,000 hours of LGBTQ patient-centered care training. Facilities achieving 100 points for participation achieved the status of “Healthcare Equality Leader,” with 418 facilities currently achieving this status nationwide.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania falls among one of lowest-rated states attempting to improve basic equality. The lack of non-discriminatory and hate crime laws statewide, in addition to religious-based discrimination and other laws undermine LGBTQ equality and influence these results.

Even with the negative occurrences affecting Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ community, there are several healthcare facilities present in the state who have embraced LGBTQ inclusion. Pennsylvania happens to be one of the leaders in healthcare associated facilities, achieving rank as the 3rd highest state of participating facilities with 34 healthcare locations associated with the health equality index, and is 5th among the LGBTQ associated Healthcare Equality Leaders. Many of Pennsylvania’s indicated healthcare facilities go above and beyond to provide inclusivity and specialization for LGBTQ policies and practices.

Temple University Health System, Penn Medicine, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia are among many of healthcare facilities not only participating in the HEI outcomes but also developing additional programs to provide improvements in policies and a welcoming environment for LGBTQ patients, community members, faculty, and visitors.

Although Pennsylvania ranks among the lowest states overall, the individual healthcare facilities participating in HEI are frequent throughout the state and strive to provide specialized and inclusive care to all individuals of the LGBTQ community.

Resource Tips

How to seek resources if your current environment is non-supportive:

• Reach out to hotlines! These are great resources that are easily accessible from anywhere and most are available 24/7.

• Communicate with family or friends you feel comfortable and safe confiding in.

• Seek professional help, if your parents are unsupportive your school counselors can be a great starting point they may be able to provide additional resources or direct you towards alternative help.

• Some local areas may have support groups specifically targeted for LGBTQ youth. You can also search for online support groups.

Keep an eye out for the next blog: September: Suicide Awareness

Stay strong, positive, and courageous!

Until next time,

Aliccia Koznecki

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help or guidance:

You are not alone! Call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Anytime (24/7): 1-800-273-8255

Resources:

1) https://www.hrc.org/hrc-story/about-us

2) https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/overview/

3) https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/HEI-2018-FinalReport.pdf?_ga=2.48429664.799336895.1536097637-1656254790.1536097637

4) https://www.lgbthealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/Improving-the-Health-of-LGBT-People.pdf

5) https://www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/news/20170329-health-and-sexual-diversity-faq.pdf?ua=1

Aliccia Koznecki