Gregory R. Johnson, MD, SFHM, FAAFP, FACP on LinkedIn: Health Inequities in LGBT People and Nursing Interventions to Reduce Them:… (2024)

Nurses Week is coming up next week. It is time for nurses to step up and act.Authentic leadership is a core competency to creating a healing environment where all voices can be seen, heard, and affirmed. There is an unprecedented attack on LGBTQ+ individuals across state legislatures and executive branches, taking aim at identity and going so far as to make gender-affirming care a felony. Nurses are taught to be advocates and the most trusted profession in the United States and therefore are in a vital place to lend their voice, act, advocate, and educate.https://lnkd.in/egnbZzbt

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The ACLU is tracking 491 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S. Many of these pieces of legislation affecting healthcare. Gender affirming care improves mental health, lowers rates of mental health illness and suicide, decreases drug and alcohol abuse, improves physical health, reduces stigma, reduces discrimination, and improves the development of healthy relationships for our trans community. As healthcare advocates we need to be the voices for those in our care. https://lnkd.in/gnwJ8K7V

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I applaud The Philadelphia Inquirer for writing about access to LGBTQ health on August 12, 2023 “Philly hospitals lack formalized training for providers who designate as LGBTQ-affirming”: https://lnkd.in/gx-nD7ja.The piece details each of our areas large hospital systems and how they designate providers as affirming or friendly to LGBTQ patients. The gist of the piece is that there is no formal training for the unique needs of my community, and they are correct. No national standards, accessible medical training curricula, or easily available certifications exist at this time. We at the Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative are trying to change that. But it’s going to take some time. And while we wait, patients deserve to know the most basic information about their potential providers like, say, they will be treated with dignity and respect. Because the opposite was the norm until very recently. It’s only been a hot minute since these same hospital systems (and all others in the United States) actually were perpetuating a system of discrimination and stigma by pathologizing LGBTQ patients as sick and abnormal. Only since 2016 – that’s seven years ago – with the inclusion of Section 1557 in the Affordable Care Act under then President Obama did discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity get addressed. Health professional schools, continuing education, and professional associations have been running to catch up to this new standard set by the Federal government. Philadelphia plays an important role in the history of LGBTQ people standing up to the medical establishment and demanding to be treated with dignity and respect. In 1973, after years of organizing and protests, our own Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny, and Dr. Anonymous (now known to be Dr. John Fryer) spoke out at a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association being held here in Philly to demand “hom*osexuality” get removed as a mental illness in their list of diagnoses.The world didn’t change for LGBTQ people instantly after that and we continue to live with the vestiges of a system that has treated us and our families cruelly for far too long. Many of us owe our lives to the nonprofits we built ourselves so we could avoid these large hospitals as much as possible. I am thankful for the healthcare provided by Philadelphia FIGHT and Mazzoni Center, and newcomer Mosaic Medical Center, ensuring thousands of LGBTQ community members get the care they need. It's time for Philadelphia to lead once again.

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Good news for healthcare innovation: The Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy is supporting a project focusing on the use of human-centered design to develop nursing resources that will improve the care and well-being of LGBTQ+ patients in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. The project team will be using human-centered design methodologies to help members of the Health Optimization Program for Elders group under the Duke Population Health Management Office increase their knowledge of long-term care practices for LGBTQ+ older adults and will develop an LGBTQ+ Older Adult Resource Box. This project exemplifies the broader potential of human-centered design in healthcare. By embracing this approach, healthcare leaders can create a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system that meets the diverse needs of the LGBTQ+ community.We hope others will similarly explore the use of human-centered design to drive positive change in healthcare. https://lnkd.in/eCqkXhM5 #Pride #LGBTQIA #LGBTQ #LGBTQHealthcare #LGBTQHealth #HealthEquity #HumanCenteredDesign #HealthcareInnovation #HealthPlus

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Diversity, equity, and inclusion are the pillars of compassionate healthcare. As a part of this at a recent conference, Assistant Director of Advanced Practice Clinicians, Chris Waybright addressed the urgent need for education in LGBTQ+ care. This empathy and education are our tools for change. By cultivating a culture of inclusivity and acceptance, healthcare providers can become allies for LGBTQ+ patients and colleagues. It's not just about saving lives; it's about transforming the narrative and advocating for equitable, compassionate care. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3LY2sF7

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🚨 Critical Input Needed from Nurses by March 31, 2024 🚨The American Nurses Association’s draft on “Nursing Advocacy for LGBTQ Populations” public comment period has been extended, and it demands our critical scrutiny. As fierce advocate of advancing nursing practice FOR ALL, I encourage you to dissect this document and ensure it meets the rigorous standards our profession and patients deserve.🔗 Access the Document:https://lnkd.in/gXu-uV_R🖋 Submit Your Candid Feedback: https://lnkd.in/gkRf2yPhKey Areas for Immediate Attention:Language and Terminology: The current draft, while well-intentioned, occasionally falls short in its use of inclusive language. For example, the term “sexual preference” is used in several sections, which needs to be updated to “sexual orientation” to reflect the innate aspect of one’s identity, rather than a choice.Implementation Science: The absence of implementation science principles in the document is a significant oversight. For the recommendations to transcend beyond theory into impactful nursing practice, incorporating strategies from implementation science is essential to guide the effective integration of these guidelines across varied nursing contexts.While these points are critical, they represent just a fraction of my reflections on the draft. These aspects, among others, require urgent attention to ensure the document’s efficacy and relevance. I am keen to continue this dialogue and explore further areas for refinement and improvement.With the March 31 deadline looming, this is our opportunity to critically assess and refine this document. It’s imperative that we, as a community of professionals, ensure that our advocacy efforts are underpinned by a document that is both reflective and directive in addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ populations within healthcare settings.This is a call to action for all nursing professionals to contribute their expertise and critical perspectives. Let’s ensure our collective voice leads to meaningful change.#Nursing #ANA #LGBTQHealth #CallToAction

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#Transgender #youth #care #misconceptions #lead #physicians, #researchers #to #set #the #record #straight #February9"#ABC #News spoke to physicians and researchers about gender-affirming care."

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“#genderaffirmingcare is considered life-saving - It plays a crucial role in improving the #mentalhealth, well-being, and overall quality of life for #transgender, #nonbinary, and gender diverse individuals.”Check out Mira Miller's article to learn more about the importance of #genderaffirmingcare. #NVFP #conciergemedicine https://lnkd.in/grcff7V8

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Remember when #RoeVsWade was overturned? I remember my wife and I staring at each other in shock, saying, "OMG...I can't believe this is happening." Know what else I remember immediately after that? Post after post from #companies speaking out about it, offering to help any female #employees who needed to travel outside of their state for abortions. Some offered to pay for travel and lodging for employees who needed it.So, I ask, "Where are all the companies that offered to help their female employees when Roe vs. Wade was overturned? And why aren't they offering support to families who must travel out of state to secure #healthcare for their #transgender, #NonBinary, and #GNC children?"When Roe vs. Wade was overturned, several companies took a stand defending women's #rights. It was a powerful demonstration of #CorporateSocialResponsibility and a clear message that these #organizations recognized the importance of reproductive autonomy.However, now that trans youth (and adults) face increased challenges in accessing #GenderAffirming healthcare due to restrictive #legislation, the silence from many of these same companies is deafening. As families are forced to cross state lines or encounter limited options, the lack of corporate #advocacy and assistance becomes apparent.The journey of trans children and their families is filled with obstacles and #discrimination. Access to competent #medical professionals specializing in gender-affirming care can be limited, forcing families to travel long distances or relocate to find suitable healthcare providers. This burden extends beyond the emotional and financial strain; it can disrupt family dynamics and exacerbate #MentalHealth challenges.ALL OF US must ask why companies, previously vocal in their support of reproductive rights, are silent when it comes to advocating for trans people and their families. These corporations have the resources and influence to impact the lives of our communities significantly. Yet they don't because they see our rights as "too political." I implore companies to extend their commitment to social responsibility beyond the reproductive rights of cisgender females. The needs of trans people and their families cannot be overlooked or dismissed. By offering tangible support, comprehensive healthcare coverage, and actively advocating for the rights and well-being of trans people, corporations can demonstrate their commitment to #inclusivity, #justice, and #equity.It is time for companies to take a stand and be vocal #allies for our community. Don't know where to start? I can help.

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL OHIO PROVIDERS**More information and tips for compliance is available to current clients and will be distributed in our next weekly compliance update for those subscribed to that service.**HB 68, which bans nearly all gender-affirming medical care for transgender and gender diverse youth in Ohio, will become law in Ohio, following today's Senate override of Governor DeWine's veto. We are devastated that Ohio politicians have put political agendas and bigotry above the wellbeing of transgender and gender diverse youth and their families as well as the best-practice healthcare standards affirmed by every major medical association. We stand in solidarity with our transgender friends, family members, colleagues, clients and community members - we see you, and we will continue to fight with you.What HB 68 says:- A parent’s refusal to acknowledge or obtain care for their child’s gender identity/transition cannot be a factor during allocation of parental rights- Physicians cannot perform any gender reassignment surgeries on minors- The bill still allows these surgeries for intersex youth who often do not consent to these surgeries.- Physicians cannot provide any cross-sex hormones or puberty-blockers for the purposes of gender transition. Physicians also cannot conduct in conduct that aids or abets a minor in receiving gender-affirming puberty blockers, hormones, or surgery- The recent amendment allows for current Ohio residents to continue receiving hormones/blockers as long as their doctor states it would be unsafe to take them off the medications, but does not allow for anyone tostartservices nor does it allow people from other state to move to Ohio and continue receiving care- No mental health professionals may diagnose or treat a minor who presents for the diagnosis or treatment of a gender-related condition without first obtaining the consent of at least one residential parent- No mental health professionals shall diagnose or treat a minor who presents for the diagnosis or treatment of gender dysphoria without screening the minor for other comorbidities including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, depression, and anxiety as well as physical, sexual, mental, and emotional abuse- Medicaid funding cannot be used to pay for gender transition services for minors, except for mental health services or for medical services for intersex minors- This bill also states that mental health professionals would need to receive consent from at least one parent to provide a diagnosis of gender dysphoria- Under current Ohio law, minors ages 14 and up are able to receive 6 therapy sessions or 30 days of sessions (whichever occurs first) with a mental health provider without parental consent. HB 68 would override this law only for minors seeking diagnosis or treatment of a “gender-related condition.”