Pride 2023 Week 2 – Reducing Health Inequities through the Health Professions

Posted by Jacqueline Leskovec on June 7th, 2023 Posted in: Blog
Tags: health equity, LGBTQ+, lgbtq+ health

Although we are in the 21st century, health inequalities for sexual and gender minorities still exist. Some of these inequities are more known and recognizable than others. This week’s post provides a sampling of resources and recommendations from our health care and related professional associations. Take a moment to review your professional association’s policies related to LGBTQ+* health.

American Academy of Neurology

• Neurobytes: Including LGBTQ+ Patients in Neurology: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other (LGBTQ+) individuals report high rates of discrimination in healthcare and have unique risks in neurology such as disparities in stroke, headache, and dementia. It is important for Neurology providers to understand issues related to patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity to provide equitable care. (Video requiring membership/payment.)

American Academy of Nursing

• Expert Panel on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Health: The Expert Panel on LGBTQ Health provides input on issues affecting the health care of individuals within the LGBTQ community, promoting nursing participation in research on LGBTQ health, and developing policy recommendations to reduce health inequities based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Select Practice Guidelines in Nursing Outlook (Subscription required.)

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

• Policy on Care for Vulnerable Populations in a Dental Setting: Policy on care for vulnerable populations in a dental setting. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2022:34-40.

American Medical Association

• Creating an LGBTQ-friendly practice: Physicians who create an environment where all patients feel welcome can better meet their patients’ often complex health care needs. Find recommended standards of practice with lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender patients and additional resources to assist making your practice LGBTQ-friendly.

American Psychological Association

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity: Advancing the creation, communication, and application of psychological knowledge on gender identity and sexual orientation to benefit society and improve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people’s lives. Resources and Publications.

Medical Library Association (MLA)

• Medical Library Association LGBTQIA+ Caucus: Public Resources. To identify, collect and disseminate LGBTQ health care information in order to enhance the quality and quantity of information available to our colleagues within MLA and within our institutions in order to support the physical and psychological health care concerns of our clients.

*Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and more. For a current Glossary of Terms, check the list from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

ABOUT Jacqueline Leskovec
Jacqueline Leskovec, MLIS, MA, RN (she/her) is the Network Specialist for NNLM Region 6. She is the lead for the Partner Outreach Program (POP), Network membership and user accounts, the Data Reporting System (DRS), and the Region 6 website. She has been with the Network since 2005. In addition to being a health sciences librarian, Jacqueline maintains her license as a registered nurse. She works from her home office in Chicago. She is well acquainted with power tools and will be happy to bore you with details of her many home repair and remodel adventures.

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