Interprofessional Teams in Reducing LGBTQ Discrimination in Healthcare
Casey et al. (2019) show that most LGBTQ individuals avoid the hospital due to anticipated discrimination and trauma from past experiences in healthcare. Discrimination in healthcare can lead to poor care services access and quality and safety outcomes. Thus, there is a need to ensure that individuals have good access to care interventions. Numerous reports show that the LGBTQ community has faced discrimination where care providers are reluctant to treat them and have been turned away by health insurance policies (Casey et al., 2019). Ramsey et al. (2022) state that interprofessional teams have roles in advocating for the rights of the LGBTQ in healthcare by ensuring services are gender flexible. They also have a role of voicing their concerns in policy development to ensure accommodation of the LGBTQ community.
The interprofessional team also has the role of developing gender-sensitive policies in care delivery. These include developing competencies for culturally sensitive care to ensure inclusivity and diversity in healthcare (Ramsey et al., 2022). Communication is vital to creating good relationships, and verbal harassment is the most common harassment method in healthcare. Stokes (2019) note that nurses and other healthcare providers are patient advocates and fight to develop healthcare laws and policies that favor their patients. A robust needs assessment informs these policies.
Interprofessional teams should invest in understanding the unique needs of these patients to assist in policy development, research, and education directed toward meeting these needs (Ramsey et al., 2022). An interprofessional team approach is crucial due to the various effects of discrimination, and varied perspectives are necessary to prevent and manage LGBTQ community discrimination and sequelae. Jaffe (2020) states that interprofessional teams should first develop policies that protect LGBTQ employees from harassment and transfer the same energy to the general population, leveraging current supporting laws and policies. Interprofessional teams have vital roles to play in protecting the LGBTQ community, including fellow employees, from discrimination, violence, and poor healthcare access,
Evidence and Position Statement of LGBTQ Discrimination in Healthcare
Institutions such as ANA show that discrimination against the LGBTQ and gender expression is rampant despite the widespread efforts to fight the discrimination. ANA is the nursing professional body responsible for guiding nursing practices. The professional body condemns discrimination by nursing professionals against individuals based on sexual orientation. It supports efforts to defend and protect human and civil rights, including the right to work, live, study, or serve without harmful activities such as bullying, bias, and harassment (Stokes, 2019). Nurses should offer services to all patients regardless of their faith, age, health status, culture, or sexual orientation. The care focus is maintaining human dignity and lessening the health disparities in the LGBTQ community.
The Affordable Care Act also supports the LGBTQ community in accessing care services. The act prohibits healthcare facilities, insurers, health plans, and healthcare employees from discriminating against individuals based on their orientation (Zanetos & Skipper, 2020). LGBTQ patients are given all rights as the general population in healthcare access. Rosenthal et al. (2022) note that the center for Medicaid and Medicare is a non-discriminative insurer to ensure health insurance coverage and the elimination of healthcare disparities present in the LGBTQ communities. ACA provisions also require healthcare plans to provide all-sex-specific preventive services, meaning that LGBTQ individuals cannot be denied these services due to the sex assigned at birth (Zanetos & Skipper, 2020).
Statistics show that more than 1.8 million teens identify as LGBTQ, about 6% of the adults identify as LGBTQ, and about half are bisexual (Casey et al., 2019.). These individuals are prone to violence and mental health issues and reports show that LGBTQ individuals are more exposed to depression, suicide, and psychological distress (Kassing et al., 2021). Most of these individuals face multiple problems, from hatred in the community, being chased away from home, and bullying at the workplace and school.
Kassing et al. (2021) show that numerous reports have linked identifying as LGBTQ to widespread hatred and subsequent physical abuse, which have detrimental effects on victims; physical and mental well-being. Transgender individuals are most significantly affected due to the physiologic changes associated with their orientation that affect their social interactions. Statistics in the criminal justice system also show that there are significantly more LGBTQ individuals in jail than in the general population, the number being higher in juveniles (Nadal, 2020).
While these position statements and the legal framework may show strong support for the LGBTQ community and prevent their discrimination, these individuals still face significant health issues (Nadal et al., 2019). There is a lack of eloquent groups to produce statements contrary to those seeking equity in vital services access. However, the societal reaction to the LGBTQ community remains harsh and unwelcoming. Contrary to these position statements by the professional bodies, statistics show that the LGBTQ communities are still highly discriminated against in societies, healthcare, and other vital services, and more steps are necessary to lessen health disparities and improve the quality of life of the LGBTQ community (Casey et al., 2019). Despite a functioning legal framework, they still face hate, discrimination, and fear, and more interventions are necessary.
Facilitating Improvements Within the LGBTQ Community
The LGBTQ community has seen many milestones in its development, resulting from various facilitating roles of institutions and laws eliminating discrimination in schools, workplaces, and vital services such as banking, healthcare, and health insurance. The LGBTQ community has evolved from being classified as mentally ill- sociopathic personality disturbance- to being protected by the law against discrimination and violence (APA, n.d.). There is a need to develop best practices to reduce discrimination, increase acceptance, and improve gender expression without fear. The best practices discussed in this area have been derived from the various evidence from research studies and position statements from the ACA, ANA, ad APA. These best practices include:
- Eliminate stereotypes in healthcare through robust continuous professional education to help reduce the health disparities in the LGBTQ community based on gender (Ramsey et al., 2022).
- Do not assume gender identity, and always ask the client their name and how one should refer to them, including nouns
- Healthcare professionals and professional bodies should invest in research aimed at reducing barriers to LGBTQ community support, discrimination elimination, and addressing disparities in healthcare
- LGBTQ empowerment through education on their health risks and the obstacles they face to ensure they are ready to tackle these challenges.
- Creation and protection of safe places for the LGBTQs are other strategies. Despite legal frameworks and support from institutions, this vulnerable population still faces rejection, hatred, and stigma. These safe places will help them express their gender without discrimination and keep them safe from all types of violence they are exposed to in the community (APA, 2022).
- Including LGBTQ needs and care in the nursing and other healthcare professionals’ curriculum (Stokes, 2019). They have varied needs, and it is vital to understand them, and their assessment and management
Conclusion
More than one problem affects vulnerable populations, making them prone to injustices. The LGBTQ community faces many issues, such as discrimination and poor access to vital services such as school and healthcare facilities. They are also bullied and are subject to physical and psychological violence. ANA, ACA, and APA provide the most robust policy and position statement support to the LGBTQ community in matters related to healthcare. Their position statements have shaped healthcare and redirected efforts to bridge healthcare gaps between the LGBTQ community and the general population. A new position statement based on the evidence and position statements to improve healthcare access and reduce discrimination against the LGBTQ community is thus vital.
