Jeremy Long, a 38-year-old from Vancouver, is tired of health-care providers assuming he’s heterosexual and wants his queer identity to be acknowledged and counted in electronic health records. Correcting this assumption is not only exhausting, but it can also be retraumatizing for individuals like Long who have already come out. Instead of labeling patients without understanding, it is important for LGBTQ individuals to be asked appropriate questions that make them feel safe and understood when accessing care.
A report released by the Community-Based Research Centre in Vancouver calls for the inclusion of gender, sex, and sexual identity information in electronic health records. The report emphasizes the need for a co-ordinated and standardized approach across the country to capture the full diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Michael Kwag, the executive director of the research centre, highlights that LGBTQ individuals have unique health needs and can experience higher rates of physical and mental health issues. The inclusion of accurate information in health records would enable better planning for the necessary services and care that the LGBTQ community requires. Failure to update electronic health records may also result in trans individuals not being screened for certain types of cancer, such as breast, cervical, or prostate cancer.
The research centre’s report emphasizes that improved access to appropriate care and accurate health records that recognize LGBTQ identities can lead to better health outcomes. To achieve this, it is crucial for clerical and administrative workers, as well as health-care professionals, to be trained to understand the distinct concepts of sex and gender. Deadnaming and using incorrect pronouns can cause harm to patients if their medical records do not reflect their gender identity.
Health Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information are being encouraged to adopt evolving terminology and work with provinces and territories to ensure the inclusion of LGBTQ identities in health records. This includes adding more fields on medical forms to capture the full diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Francis Lau, a retired researcher, highlights the importance of modernizing Canada’s medical records systems by including various sexual identities. A national plan was released two years ago, outlining the need to consult with community groups and establish standards for collecting information related to gender, sex, and sexual orientation. The ongoing working group on sex, gender, and sexual orientation with Canada Health Infoway is working towards developing coding in medical records for different sexual orientations, including individuals who may be gender fluid or choose not to disclose that information.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
