LGBTQ+ people face many barriers within health care. The healthcare needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer community should be considered to provide the best care and avoid inequalities of care. Learning to take care of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer community involves understanding and being open to multiple special considerations and avoiding unconscious and perceived biases. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have unfortunately experienced a challenging history, but healthcare professionals can learn to provide compassionate, comprehensive, and high-quality care with education.
Therefore, the Caring for LGBTQ+ Patients in Healthcare Settings course is designed to educate healthcare personnel (HCP) on how to properly treat members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community to provide the best care and avoid inequalities of care.
What You Will Learn
- Challenges to caring for the LGBTQ+ community
- About transgender transitional care
- Promoting LGBTQ privacy and confidentiality
- About clinical significance
Details
Course length: 1 hour; CEU: 1.
Languages: American English
Key features: Audio narration, learning activity, and post-assessment
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This course will train healthcare workers to adequately and equitably administer care to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
ACCME Accreditation
American Medical Compliance is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education to physicians. Our Continuing Medical Education (CME) program is committed to enhancing the knowledge, skills, and professional performance of healthcare providers to improve patient care outcomes. Through high-quality educational activities, we aim to address the identified educational gaps and to support the continuous professional development of our medical community. American Medical Compliance designates this activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should only claim this credit for their complete participation in this activity.
Benefits of Online Courses
There are many advantages to taking an online course. Online courses are flexible and convenient. You can work them around your busy schedule. You’re allowed to take this course on your own time and in the environment of your choice. It can improve skills of self-management and self-discipline. This course can be easily taken and easily administered.
Important Information
It is essential to begin by understanding terminologies that are important to the LGBTQ+ community. In this course, you will learn that the LGBTQ+ community includes a variety of races, religious backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, and ethnicities. The healthcare needs of each individual should be considered to ensure equity of care. Healthcare professionals will learn to provide high-quality and considerate care in this course. Education is vital to avoid biases of any kind. Care should be administered free of assumptions and stigmatization.
It is important to understand the features of the LGBTQ+ community, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Additionally, these two features should never be assumed by a healthcare professional. You will learn through this course how to provide healthcare in a manner that is sensitive to the patient.
Challenges
Members of the LGBTQ+ community are often victims of harassment and violence. When asking questions about this, inform the patient that this conversation will remain confidential to the ability allowed by the state.
Patients that are members of the LGBTQ+ community may use terms that they consider slang. However, when used by a healthcare provider, they are strongly derogatory.
When attempting to identify a patient’s sexual orientation or gender identity follow the lead of the patient. Subsequently, once it has been established, a note should be made for future visits.
Welcoming Environment
Throughout this course, you will learn methods and strategies to ensure that providers are welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Providers should train staff to avoid discriminatory beliefs, understand the healthcare needs of the individuals, and ensure appropriate and sensitive language. Providers and staff should be comfortable discussing gender and sexual orientation. Forms given to patients should include gender-neutral options for an LGBTQ+ person to fill out.
Additional Considerations
The healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ members of society are generally similar to those who are not within that community. However, many challenges stem from discrimination and harassment within society. Each group may have a different specific need.
Transgender Transitional Care
Transgender Transitional Care comes in a variety of forms. The patient is allowed to determine what form or forms of gender-affirming methods. Through this course, you will learn about the types of gender-affirming procedures and the differences between them.
Privacy
Many members of the LGBTQ+ community have not and do not want to make that information public. Due to this, many are not often used to openly discussing this even with healthcare providers. It is important to ensure your patient that their information and conversations will remain confidential. There are no existing laws that specifically point to LGBTQ+ privacy. However, the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act equally apply.
Cultural Competence
It is always important to show cultural competence as a healthcare provider. This will lead to more positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ patients. Providers should have an understanding of LGBTQ+ history and present experiences. Providers should use gender-neutral language. Similarly, providers should identify risk factors specific to their community with sensitivity to their needs. The most important thing to remember is to always be respectful. Through this course, you will learn how to provide care to LGBTQ+ patients with understanding and sensitivity.
