changes constantly — it's hard even for those of us who study it to
keep up. The good news is it's not necessary to be an expert in order
to do a good job for patients and to be an excellent colleague to
providers in the LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and more) community. All it really
takes is good old-fashioned common decency. Show respect. Avoid
assumptions. Listen, learn and empathize. If you do, the outcomes will
be positive, both in professional satisfaction and in facility economics.
A life and death matter
If you entered your profession to help people (which I hope at least
part of you did!), great satisfaction awaits you in caring for this com-
munity. Few populations need healthcare help more than
LGBTQIA2S+ patients.
Studies show that 30% of LGBTQIA2S+ people lack a healthcare
provider (only 10% of age-matched heterosexuals do). The reasons are
well-known. First, members of this population are more likely to be
unemployed or underemployed due to discrimination. Despite often
having higher levels of education, they often have lower incomes and
may not have health insurance. If they do have insurance, their
domestic partners may not be covered. If they're trans or non-binary,
insurance may not cover some services they need.
Perhaps most importantly, they fear the healthcare system because
they have been stigmatized or traumatized previously.
1
In one study, 73%
of transgender respondents and 29% of lesbian, gay and bisexual respon-
dents reported that they believed they would be treated differently by
medical personnel because of their status. When asked why, more than
half reported that they had experienced outright refusal of care, that a
provider refused to touch them or used excessive precautions when
touching them, or were abused verbally or even physically.
2
3 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9
