GLBT-Inclusive Intake Forms
One of the first steps to providing culturally competent care is amending all patient-history and intake forms to assure that they are GLBT-inclusive. For example, choices for relationship status should go beyond the heteronormative options of “single,” “married,” “divorced” or “widowed” by including a “domestic partnership” option. Also, whenever gender is listed as a characteristic, the gender binary must be broken by adding transgender (both male-to-female and female-to-male) as an option for the patient to check. Providing inclusive options for relationship status and gender identity are only two of the many ways intake forms can include the GLBT community. This acknowledgment of the GLBT community is a necessary step in cultivating open lines of communication between the patient and provider.
Resources:
- General Guidelines for Forms and Patient-Provider Discussions (GLMA, 2006) [PDF]
- History and Physical Intake Form (Seattle & King County Publich Health, 2005) [www.metrokc.gov]
