The LGBTQIA+ community faces many challenges while seeking healthcare services
The LGBTQIA+ community faces many challenges while seeking healthcare services. This includes health inequalities such as discrimination due to sexual orientation and gender identity. Hence, this call for health providers and healthcare systems to reduce this discrimination by defending human rights. In order to understand the situation, it is important to address that LGBTQ exists. Since 2010, the US Department of Health and Human Services included LGBTQ in Healthy People 2020 to address disparities (Mason, D, et al, p 214). Policies and advocacy suggestions that healthcare institutions can implement to reduce disparities in LGBTQIA+ include Education and training. Healthcare providers and students should be trained on LGBTQIA+ cultural competency, sensitivity, and healthcare needs. This will help improve their skills and knowledge related to the LGBT+ community and empower them to promote quality care and reduce bias in care delivery.
Additionally, healthcare institutions should implement non-discrimination policies that will help prohibit discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals in healthcare institutions. Non-discrimination policies may include restroom policies whereby health centers may develop policies that allow all people to use restrooms that best align with their gender identity to avoid harassment of the LGBTQIA+ community in gender-specific restrooms. This will help form a culture of inclusivity at healthcare institutions regardless of gender differences hence promoting a safe environment for the LGBTQIA+ community to seek healthcare support without fear of discrimination.
Moreover, there is a need for healthcare institutions to review all health center forms for inclusivity to ensure that they reflect the LGBTQIA+ community and their relationships without discrimination (LGBTQIA+ National Health, 2021). This may be done by ensuring that medical history forms not only apply to men and women but also includes the use of gender-inclusive response gaps such as partner/spouse instead of husband and wife.
Advanced practice nurses can participate in supporting the LGBTQIA community and provide better healthcare services through several actions:
First, APNS should advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and educate their colleagues and healthcare institutions on prioritizing this community’s rights and understanding their healthcare needs (Medina-Martínez et al., 2021). Additionally, APNs can promote a gender-affirming and culturally sensitive environment by using respectable language on office and medical forms, showing kindness, and keenly paying attention to all the patient’s needs without being judgmental and making any wrong assumptions against them.
Moreover, APNs should ensure that the implemented non-discriminatory policies are adhered to and followed to help promote an inclusive health environment for the LGBTQIA+ community (Medina-Martínez et al., 2021). Also, APNs should collaborate with LGBTQIA+ specialized healthcare providers and make appropriate referrals to ensure appropriate care is given to this community. Hence, by implementing these suggestions and actions, APNs can help form an inclusive health environment for all patients despite their gender identities and reduce healthcare disparities, improving the overall health outcomes of the LGBTQIA+ community.
References
LGBTQIA+ National Health. (2021, April). 10 Strategies for Creating Inclusive Health Care Environments for LGBTQIA+ People. https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Ten-Strategies-for-Creating-Inclusive-Health-Care-Environments-for-LGBTQIA-People-Brief.pdf?__cf_chl_tk=vh8hMmQRcr4DfM0btDxQ0tXLiq.IpyAm.ODCDn0.xf8-1690622450-0-gaNycGzNDmU
Mason, D. J., Dickson, E. L., McLemore, M. R., & Perez, G. A. (2021). Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care. Elsevier
Medina-Martínez, J., Saus-Ortega, C., Sánchez-Lorente, M. M., Sosa-Palanca, E. M., García-Martínez, P., & Mármol-López, M. I. (2021). Health Inequities in LGBT People and Nursing Interventions to Reduce Them: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11801. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211801
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