LGBTIQ+ PERSONAL INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE IN EMR
At Northern Sydney Local Health District, we are committed to ensuring that every patient feels respected, safe, and included in their healthcare journey. As part of this commitment, we are pleased to introduce the new LGBTIQA+SB and Intersex Patient Information Form , along with its electronic medical record (eMR) counterpart – the Additional Demographic Information PowerForm and Widget . These tools have been designed to help staff provide care that is inclusive and person- centred by capturing information about a patient’s preferred name, pronouns, sex assigned at birth, gender identity, sexual orientation, and intersex status . Why this form matters Many LGBTIQ+ people have had negative experiences in healthcare, often due to assumptions, stigma , or discrimination. This leads to fear and healthcare avoidance. To ensure people feel safe enough to share their personal information and needs in their healthcare, it is vital to speak to them in a way that respects who they are. This form helps us do just that. • Affirming identities – Asking about how someone likes to be addressed and referred to helps us ensure patients feel seen and respected. • Avoiding assumptions – we are all different! We cannot assume everyone likes to be spoken to in the same way. Person - centred care requires us to get to know the person in front of us. • Building trust – A safe and respectful interaction encourages patients to engage more openly in their care, leading to better outcomes. It also makes them more likely to come back in the future! As one recent patient shared after their stay at Ryde Hospital: “Literally every person I interacted with treated me with respect and attentive care… I was overcome with emotion as I’m simply not used to feeling this cared for.” Small actions, like offering this form and checking in about what language someone uses to describe themselves and their lives, make a big difference.
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