LGBTQ+ in Medicine
This Pride Month, Germane Solutions wants to highlight LGBTQ+ considerations in Academic Medicine and best practices towards becoming more LGBTQ+ inclusive within hospitals, programs, and the greater- Graduate Medical Education (GME) community,
LGBTQ+ trainees, physicians, and patients are becoming more prevalent; and likewise, the challenges they experience within healthcare settings are more visible. While diversity and inclusion have become exponentially more prevalent within medicine (with both enhanced standards from the ACGME and Joint Commission), diversity in sexual orientation is often the least implemented (“DEI Data” p. 5).
GME programs are crucial in shaping the cultural competence of future healthcare providers and serve as tools to expose physicians to the most updated facets of care for demographics. Of 2022’s graduating medical students, more than 10% identified as a sexual minority (Parsons).
Regarding the care of LGBTQ+ patients, nearly one in five who identify as LGBTQ+ avoid seeking medical care; and one in six have experienced discrimination in a healthcare setting (Powell): for example, trans people are more likely to be told by healthcare professionals that they have a depressive disorder. Additionally, trans people experience proportionally more poor health days, having gender-affirming care curtailed, and bias around said care (Yurcaba). As LGBTQ+ communities are becoming more prevalent in medicine, Germane Solutions believes it is imperative to utilize GME programs to guide and foster the next generations of physicians.
Below are areas where LGBTQ+ inclusivity can be improved or applied and a brief section with applicable questions to consider for your institution.
Improving LGBTQ+ Inclusivity
Recruitment and Holistic Reviews
Recruitment revolves around reactions to applicants and has the potential to be rife with bias—intentional or not. Several GME- and recruitment-related applications have tools available to mitigate bias, such as the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and its filtering mechanisms, where certain applicant data points can be filtered. While these tools are certainly beneficial ways to mitigate bias, the faculty and reviewers should be properly educated and aware of their responsibility when reviewing applicants. More importantly, bias mitigation should be considered throughout the recruitment process. Oftentimes, recruitment processes can seem templated and/or focused on tangible items, such as test scores, which can be non-substantive or omit critical information. Conversely, a holistic review, composed of experiences, attributes, and academic accomplishments, can be done without a heavy consideration of scores and impersonal factors and can focus on the personable attributes of the candidate. This type of reviewing allows institutions to better identify individuals who fit into the environment of their programs and the mission they espouse, which can support future mentorship initiatives. Development sessions with relevant faculty before and after recruitment cycles can be valuable opportunities to improve in this regard.
Lastly, with recruitment, interviewing is a vital component where mitigating bias and equally reviewing applicants is paramount. Recruitment Selection Committees, or the program leadership involved with recruitment, should develop universal questions in order to assess all applicants equally. Additionally, these questions should be reviewed with utmost scrutiny to mitigate potential biases. Prior to interviews, all faculty involved should participate in faculty development regarding mitigating bias and the importance of a diverse and inclusive healthcare workforce.
Mentorship Programs
Committee Involvement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Other Initiatives to Consider
Questions to Consider
Below are questions your program or hospital can consider to pursue improvements in LGBTQ+ Inclusivity and Diversity.
How well do your current training and healthcare policies accommodate the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, and what gaps have you identified that need addressing?
What are the key barriers in your institution to implementing inclusive healthcare policies, and how can we assist in overcoming these to create a more inclusive environment?
How can integrating LGBTQ+ health education into your training programs improve patient outcomes and reduce health disparities within your facility?
In what ways can your institution engage more deeply with local LGBTQ+ communities to better understand and serve their health needs?
How can your institution implement ongoing feedback mechanisms from both LGBTQ+ trainees and patients to continually adapt and improve inclusivity and care standards?
Works Cited
“DEI Data Insights Leadership and Governance in Hospitals and Health Systems.” AHA Institute for Diversity and Inclusions and American Hospital Association. February 2024. ifdhe_dei-benchmark-survey-leadership-governance-3.pdf (aha.org).
Parsons, Matthew Q., BA. “Multilevel LGBTQ+ Surgical Mentorship: Fostering Interest and Inclusivity in Medical School.” Association for Academic Surgery. September 8, 2023. Multilevel LGBTQ+ Surgical Mentorship: Fostering Interest and Inclusivity in Medical School - Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) (aasurg.org).
Powell, Alvin. “The Problems with LGBTQ Health Care.” The Harvard Gazette. March 23, 2018. Health care providers need better understanding of LGBTQ patients, Harvard forum says — Harvard Gazette.
Yurcaba, By Jo. “Nearly Half of Trans People Have Been Mistreated by Medical Providers, Report Finds.” NBC News. August 18, 2021. Nearly half of trans people have been mistreated by medical providers, report finds (nbcnews.com).
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