VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -A new report from the Community-Based Research Centre calls for inclusion of 2S/LGBTQIA+ identities in medical records.
Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly used to keep track of medical information in Canada, but a lack of fields to capture data on 2S/LGBTQIA+ identities prevents people from accessing appropriate care.
The report, Seeing Us As We Are: Gender, sex, & sexual orientation identification in electronic health records, makes recommendations to include new data fields, but also to support these changes through coordination across jurisdictions, training for healthcare providers and community consultation.
“EHRs should reflect the unique health needs and full diversity of 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities,” says Michael Kwag, CBRC’s Executive Director. “When our health records and data systems do not appropriately reflect our identities, queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people can miss out on important medical care and clinical support.”
Knowing 2S/LGBTQIA+ identities is important for a variety of clinical interventions. This information impacts the type of testing required for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), for example, as well as other sexual health interventions. Effectively capturing data on both gender and sex assigned at birth is also important for breast and cervical cancer screenings. Many clinics rely on this information to notify patients of recommended screenings by letter or phone.
Reflecting queer and trans identities in electronic medical records can also play a role in affirming people’s identities as they navigate the healthcare system. For example, trans patients can be deadnamed, or referred to with the wrong pronouns if their medical records don’t account for their gender identity.
The report also highlights the coordinated effort required for successful implementation of 2S/LGBTQIA+ identity in EHRs.
“It’s not enough to reorganize our record systems and move on,” Kwag says. “We need policy makers to work together with clinicians and community members in a coordinated way. This means federal leadership with provincial and territorial partners to promote these changes as well as supportive resources for clinicians, so queer and trans patients are set up to get the care they need.”
The report makes specific recommendations to Health Canada, as well as provincial and territorial governments to ensure these changes roll out in a way that is safe and impactful for 2S/LGBTQIA+ patients.
About CBRC
Community-Based Research Centre promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development. CBRC’s core pillars of community-led research, knowledge exchange, network building, and leadership development position the organization as a thought leader, transforming ideas into actions that make a difference in our communities. CBRC was incorporated in 1999 and is a non-profit charitable organization. Our main office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia; we also have satellite offices located in Edmonton, Toronto, and Halifax.
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For interviews, please contact:
Michael Ianni
Media Relations Officer, CBRC
[email protected]
604.345.7689
Adam Jalali
Associate Director, Communications, CBRC
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