implementing best practices for serving and engaging lgbt

Implementing best practices for serving and engaging LGBT patients and healthcare professionals Riikka Salonen, Oregon Health & Science University

Session objectives

•  Recognize opportunities to make organizational policies and processes more inclusive and culturally sensitive for LGBT patients and employees.

•  Identify training resources and tools for increasing cultural awareness related to LGBT topics.

•  Understand best practices for engaging LGBT employees and community organizations.

2

OHSU was named as a "Leader in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Healthcare Equality" in 2011 and 2012 by the Human Rights Campaign.

A leader in LGBT healthcare equality

The Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) rates healthcare facilities on their policies related to LGBT healthcare equality.

Four main areas:

•  Patient non-discrimination •  Hospital visitation rights •  Employment policies •  Cultural competency training

Healthcare Equality Index

Policies and practices

•  Inclusive policies: o Equal opportunity policy o Non-discrimination policies o Visitation rights and room assignments o Employee benefits (Domestic partner benefits

and trans-inclusive health benefits) •  Inclusive practices

• Waiting rooms materials • Transitioning guidelines

5

Training contexts

•  New Employee Orientation •  Broadening Cultural Competence online module •  Healthcare Equality Webinars

–  Your LGBT Patients: An Introduction –  LGBT Patient-Centered Care: An Executive Briefing –  Transgender Patients: Organizational Best Practices

•  Departmental initiatives •  Academic program integration

6

Training topics

•  Health disparities and risks for LGBT patients •  LGBT patients’ experience of healthcare •  LGBT-related legal and regulatory requirements •  Best practices for healthcare professionals

treating LGBT patients and their families •  Particular challenges for LGBT subpopulations

7

LGBT awareness resource: CultureVision

8

CultureVision Website

LGBT awareness resource: OHSU Library

9

OHSU Library Website

Employee and patient engagement

•  Employee resource groups •  Employee engagement and diversity climate

surveys • Websites and LGBT printed media •  Patient materials

10

Employee engagement: OHSU Pride

11 OHSU Pride Website

OHSU Pride strategic goals

•  Ensure that OHSU's policies and procedures are fully inclusive, welcoming and equitable for LGBTQ employees and visitors at OHSU

•  Raise the visibility and support of OHSU and OHSU Pride in the LGBTQ community through community engagement

•  Provide LGBTQ education to the broader OHSU community •  Increase LGBTQ and allied employee and student recruitment and

retention at OHSU •  Provide LGBTQ employees, students, and allies with space and

opportunities for social support and networking at OHSU •  Assess and track the experiences of LGBTQ employees, students,

and patients in order to make recommendations on best practices for patient care, employee retention, and culturally competent educational curriculum

12

Outreach and recruitment

•  Partner with LGBT community organizations and sponsor events and programs

•  Participate in LGBT health education events •  Promote employment opportunities at the LGBT

community events with inclusive recruiting materials

13

Diversity recruitment

14

Resources

•  Human Rights Campaign: Healthcare Equality Index

•  The Joint Commission: Advancing effective communication, cultural competence, and patient- and family-centered care for the LGBT community: A field guide

•  Primary Care Protocol for Transgender Care

15

Contact information

16

Riikka Salonen Manager, Workforce Equity and Inclusion Healthcare Human Resources Oregon Health & Science University salonenr@ohsu.edu 503 346-0781

Acknowledgement: Sue Orchard, Associate Director, Center of Diversity & Inclusion, OHSU