Episode 103: Caring for LGBTQ+ Patients. 

Salwa, Pat, and Dr. Arreaza explain how to care for patients who identify themselves as LGBTQ+. Answered questions include, what screenings are needed? Any special needs? 

Introduction: LGBTQ+ Information.  
By Hector Arreaza, MD. 

Recently the media has been flooded with information about LGBTQ+. If you wonder what LGBTQ+ means, it means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and the “+” sign acknowledges other orientations such as asexual, intersex, and more. June was designated as “pride month”. I think we have received more information within the last year than in the previous century. Many people consider this an overrepresentation of the calculated 3.5% to 8% of the population who identify themselves as LGBTQ+, many others consider this a revolution to promote equality in our society by reaffirming gay rights, while others consider this a part of an agenda to destroy the “American way of living” or even the US Armed Forces. 

You can come to your own conclusion about the origin and validity of this movement, but as medical providers, especially as family medicine providers, we must be prepared to care for any patient we encounter, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, and treat them with the same respect and compassion as any other patient. This episode was done to increase your awareness of this topic and motivate you to keep learning about it. By the way, there are now specific fellowships you can take to become more specialized on this topic, and you can find more information on the American Medical Association website.[3] 

This is the Rio Bravo qWeek Podcast, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program from Bakersfield, California. Our program is affiliated with UCLA, and it’s sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Let Us Be Your Healthcare Home. 

This podcast was created for educational purposes only. Visit your primary care provider for additional medical advice.

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Caring for LGBTQ+ patients. 

By Salwa Sadiq-Ali, MS IV Ross University School of Medicine, and Pattamestrige Perera, MS IV, American University of the Caribbean. Comments by Hector Arreaza, MD.

Salwa: So, I was browsing the internet as we all do these days and I came across a short film, The Clinic, by a Canada-based organization, the Get REAL movement. Have you heard about this Dr. Arreaza? 

Arreaza: No, I haven’t, but this sounds interesting. What was the film about? 

Salwa: Essentially, it’s about LGBTQ+ patients and how healthcare is not inclusive. The film shows two patients with the same concern, one of which is from the LGBTQ+ community. It goes on to show how they are treated differently by the physician. 

Arreaza: That’s not how it should be. Unfortunately, healthcare disparity is very real, especially in minority groups like the LGBTQ+. One study found that 3.5% of Americans identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and 0.3% identify as transgender. They also found that these individuals are more likely to get poor care because of stigma and lack of awareness. 

Salwa: Exactly! And since June is PRIDE month, I thought this would be a great topic! Especially because we as students or healthcare providers don’t learn too much about this in school or training. 

Arreaza: I think that’s a great idea. I’ve heard a lot about PRIDE celebrations and the memorials that are held. How about we start with what exactly is PRIDE?

Pat: PRIDE is a celebration, a movement. It’s celebrated to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots or Uprising. The riots began after the police raided a gay club in New York City leading to almost a week of violent clashes. This event marked the beginning of the gay rights movement as we know it today. 

Arreaza: And today PRIDE is celebrated wit