Using population health, inclusive HIM practices to better treat LGBTQ patients

THE LESBIAN, GAY, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) population faces a variety of health disparities, such as barriers to appropriate healthcare access and other issues that include (but are not limited to) social stigma, discrimination, and sometimes violations of patient rights, as noted in a 2017 AHIMA Practice Brief.1 In addition, the Practice Brief authors stated that according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the LGBTQ population experiences a higher incidence of a variety of mental and physical disorders that require special attention.2 These healthcare concerns include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted infections. Hoping to better address these specific LGBTQ healthcare concerns, as well public health concerns for the public at large, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2010 launched its Healthy People 2020 initiative-a 10-year campaign that outlines the department's goals and objectives for health promotion and disease prevention.