Healthcare Equality Index: Data Collection Policies
A first step in providing culturally competent care is amending all patient-history and intake forms to ensure that they are LGBT-inclusive. For example, choices for relationship status should include terms such as “partnered” in addition to “single,” “married,” “divorced,” etc.
Also, these forms should allow for flexibility in the options for gender identification, including an option for transgender (both male-to-female and female-to-male). For example, the Fenway Community Health Center in Boston, MA includes the following statement on their patient information forms:
- While Fenway recognizes a number of genders/sexes, many insurance companies and legal entities unfortunately do not. Due to circumstances beyond our control, please be aware that your legal name and sex you have listed on your insurance must be used on documents pertaining to insurance and billing. If your preferred name and pronouns are different from these, please let us know.
- More information on LGBT-inclusive intake forms
Data Collection Systems
Data collection systems that include fields for sexual orientation and gender identity allow for this information to be captured by providers - while not requiring this information from patients who prefer not to disclose or have this information in their medical records and facilitate the assessment of health outcomes according to sexual orientation and gender identity.
