What one hospital is doing to improve LGBTQ health care

Every day, millions of Americans struggle to stay healthy or seek the quality health care they need simply because of who they are. This phenomenon — also known as health disparities — is a battle fought by many different marginalized groups, including women and minorities.

“The concept of health disparities is more commonly framed around gender or race, but health disparities certainly exist in LGBTQ communities and are especially pronounced in the transgender community,” says Dr. Zachary LaMaster, a family medicine physician at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. “In the face of these realities, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center has always believed it’s critically important to ensure equal access to comprehensive health care services in a safe and compassionate environment.”

The statistics paint a grim pictures: LGBTQ individuals are less likely than heterosexual individuals to have health insurance, seek the help of a health care professional or pick up and maintain prescription medications.

Dr. LaMaster explains there are barriers standing in the way of LGBTQ individuals accessing quality health care, some of which may even manifest within the four walls of a hospital or doctor’s office.

“Marginalized groups, including LGBTQ individuals, may not be able to receive quality health services because they are physically too far removed from a provider or they don’t have the financial means to afford that care,” he says. “Many times, though, the barrier may be the health care professionals themselves, who may not know how to care for LGBTQ individuals or have an unfair bias against them.”

In recognition of this need, leaders from Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center formed a LGBTQ task force, made up of hospital team members with a passion for advancing health equity for LGBTQ patients.

As part of their work, members of the LGBTQ task force tackle key issues, including the incorporation of sexual orientation and gender identity demographics as part of standard patient documentation.

“Currently, it is not a standard practice for health care organizations to collect LGBTQ-specific demographics, and because of this, it’s very difficult to collect, analyze and report this patient population’s health status and needs,” says Oscar Zambrano, LGBTQ Ombudsman at Advocate Illinois Masonic.

Research suggests that providers may not collect demographic information because they don’t feel comfortable asking for this information or the patients themselves don’t feel comfortable volunteering it.

To that end, the task force has created cultural competency training to ensure Advocate Illinois Masonic providers and team members are prepared to facilitate those conversations in a respectful and disarming way.

The work of Advocate Illinois Masonic’s internal task force is complemented by an external LGBTQ community advisory council, made up of community leaders and stakeholders. Armed with a keen understanding of the LGBTQ community, the council members advise hospital leadership on the needs of that population.

“We are constantly looking at how to better engage the LGBTQ community so we can truly know their needs and deliver the care they deserve in a safe environment,” says Zambrano. “Our LGBTQ task force and community advisory council are two parts of a whole, and we would not be able to carry out the important work of bridging LGBTQ health disparities without their commitment and guidance.”

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center has a long history of delivering safe and affirming LGBTQ health care. The hospital housed Unit 371, Chicago’s first multidisciplinary care unit dedicated to housing, treating and supporting patients with AIDS and HIV during the epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s.

Throughout the years, Advocate Illinois Masonic has stayed committed to embracing and caring for LGBTQ patients. For its work, the hospital has also been recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation every year since the award’s inception 11 years ago.