Staff Training

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Overview

Why have training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care?

As all healthcare organizations know, employee training is critical for policies to be lived out fully and consistently. Organizations have found training particularly important for ensuring LGBTQ+ patient-centered care. Training employees in LGBTQ+ concerns not only ensures that LGBTQ+ patients receive equitable and culturally competent care. It also helps to improve the general hospital climate towards all LGBTQ+ people, specifically LGBTQ+ employees.

The Joint Commission Recommendations

The Joint Commission’s LGBT Field Guide explicitly notes that a hospital can only provide welcoming and competent care through a workforce that is prepared to do so. The Field Guide urges healthcare facilities to provide its employees with training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care, stating that “hospitals should offer employees high-quality training that equips them with the tools to provide equitable, knowledgeable, and welcoming care for LGBTQ+ patients and their families.” The Field Guide further provides a list of suggested LGBTQ+ topics to cover in trainings, varying methods to train employees, and other key recommendations in training employees in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care.

To receive credit in the HEI:

  • For new facilities or those that have not previously met the training requirement, key senior executives must complete the LGBTQ+ Patient-Centered Care: An Executive Briefing training provided by the HEI
  • Returning facilities that have previously met the Executive Briefing requirement must complete a minimum number of on-going staff training hours in LGBTQ+-related topics
    • Facilities with up to 500 staff members must complete a minimum of 25 hours of on-going training
    • Facilities with 500 or more staff members must complete a minimum of 50 hours of on-going training
      • This is a per facility requirement, not a per person requirement. Ideally, at least 25 (or 50) different staff members will participate in a training of an hour or longer. However, we use the 25 (and 50) hour figure rather than specifying people to allow for some flexibility since the length of trainings may vary and to account for the fact that some people will want to take more than one training.

  • Facilities must promote the training options available through the HEI from both the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and The CAL to staff throughout their facility

OR

  • Facility must require and promote their own internal LGBTQ+ training for at least 50% or more of employees annually and provide documentation to the HEI to verify that this training has been completed by 50% or more of employees.

HEI Scored Questions

To meet the first component of this requirement, healthcare organizations must have key facility employees receive expert training in LGBTQ+ patient-centered care. Training programs should offer all incoming and current staff the information and skills they need to provide culturally competent care and services to their LGBTQ+ patients.

Training requirements vary by facility and are determined by whether or not the facility has previously met the HEI Executive Briefing Training Requirement, which is typically met during the first year of HEI participation. Facilities that have previously met the HEI Executive Briefing Training Requirement, need to meet the HEI On-Going LGBTQ+ Education Requirement. A facility can learn which training requirement it needs to meet by logging into the HEI survey and reviewing the training section.

About the trainings offered

Executive Briefing Training Requirement

On-Going Training Requirement

Training Promotion Requirement

Training Requirement Completion