Identifying Bias for Better Patient Care

Seeking opportunities to educate healthcare systems and their employees on the needs of the LGBTQ+ community is a step toward better understanding and the ability to provide better care. In this Q&A, Cristian Lozano, MLS(ASCP)CM, discusses his experience and thoughts on how providers can break down their biases and foster equitable care. 

How can healthcare providers in the U.S. get a better understanding of the needs of LGBTQ+ patients in order to provide better health care?

Many LGBTQ+ patients put off seeking preventative care as well as treatment for serious or life-threatening illnesses. This is because many assume that only a small number of healthcare practitioners provide supportive and sensitive services to the LGBTQ+ population. Unfortunately, although the previous statement is not always true, some healthcare practitioners carry their preconceptions about sexual orientation and gender to work. Sadly, not all providers are aware of their bias, and these providers seem to be the most likely to discriminate against our community inadvertently. 

So, the first step that all healthcare professionals should take to understand our community better is to identify their biases. This simple but sometimes cumbersome task can improve the overall care that is provided to the LGBTQ+ community. It is essential to know what kind of biases we all carry with us while providing care to this community and all other communities that face discrimination and social injustice. Healthcare professionals will gain cultural competency and sensitivity in order to communicate with a variety of patient groups, as well as improve their ability to create policies and choose the best services to provide. Ultimately, the best practice for any provider is to treat all patients equally. When treating patients, the best question to ask yourself is, “Is this how I would want to be treated or taken care of?”

Tell us about your own personal experiences as an LGBTQ+ person in health care, and how it has affected your career or your education?

I have had a fantastic experience as a gay man in health care. In most situations, when my sexual orientation is disclosed in casual conversation or passing, there is no specific reaction to the news. Instead, the conversation continues as it usually would, and in some instances, the revelation has led to lasting friendships. Yet, I am still slightly selective when it comes to sharing that I am gay. I tend only to tell people that I have known for an extended period or who have asked me directly. Nevertheless, I am starting to care less if people have an issue with my sexual orientation. 

Now that I am transitioning into my professional career and as a future educator, I want to make sure that my colleagues, patients, and students know that they can feel comfortable around me, knowing that my office and classroom are considered safe zones. I will treat everyone the same no matter who they are. I remember feeling like I was the odd person out in specific groups and would change my personality to fit the status quo. However, over the years, I realized that I was harming myself more than anyone else and have made it my goal to make sure everyone around me feels like they can be themselves.

What is the single most important change a healthcare system can make to improve LGBTQ+ medical care? 

By acknowledging its commitment to offer quality treatment to all—regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity—the U.S. healthcare system has made significant progress in improving LGBTQ+ medical care. But there is a long way to go before the healthcare system can actively keep up with the ever-changing LGBTQ+ community needs and wants. Our community changes regularly and causes some healthcare systems to fall behind in current LGBTQ+ literature and news. The key to success for all healthcare systems is to seek educational opportunities for their employees and patients actively.

Why do you think it is important for healthcare systems to recognize LGBTQ+ specific healthcare needs?

For a variety of reasons, healthcare institutions and personnel must be knowledgeable on LGBTQ+ healthcare needs. However, two factors in particular stick out to me. First, anti-LGBTQ+ bias in health care has a long history and continues to impact our community. As previously stated, some patients in our community are hesitant to tell their doctors about their sexual orientation or gender identity, despite the value of such information for their health care. At this time in their lives, older generations of the LGBTQ+ community who grew up during eras of less societal acceptability are at a moment in their lives where health care is critical. However, their mistrust of the healthcare system might jeopardize their safety and health. Healthcare practitioners must demonstrate to the LGBTQ+ community that they are listening and eager to assist. 

Second, there are several health inequities that affect the LGBTQ+ community's population. LGBTQ+ persons face health inequalities as a result of a lack of knowledgeable health care and minority stress. Minority stress overlaps with inequities related with race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in our community. As a result, the long history and complicated network that binds us must be acknowledged in order to deliver the best health care to the LGBTQ+ community.