Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Forward
Caring for the LGBTQ+ Community: An Introduction
Activity description
This activity is the first in a series. To access part two, Across the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Spectrum, please click here.
Stigma and discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) community—whether intentional, unintentional, or due to implicit bias—can negatively affect the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ population. This activity will raise awareness of the identities and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as ways to address the unique health-related disparities affecting the community. It will discuss appropriate use of pronouns and terminology and review current statistics regarding social and health care disparities experienced by this community. Lastly, it will explore how to create environments in which LGBTQ+ individuals can feel validated, safe, and welcome.
This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of case managers, counselors, educators, medical assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, office staff, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, PAs, physicians, psychologists, social workers, therapists and other health care professionals (HCPs) and staff who are interested in creating environments in which LGBTQ+ individuals can feel validated, safe, and welcome.
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify the negative effects that implicit bias, stigma, and discrimination can have on the mental and physical health of those in the LGBTQ+ community.
- Discuss the appropriate use of pronouns and terminology that should be used in respectful communication with members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- State the specific and unique health-related risks and disparities that are experienced by the LGBTQ+ community and describe how an understanding of these risks and disparities shapes the provision of competent care.
- Identify how to create a health care environment in which members of the LGBTQ+ community can feel validated, welcome and safe to discuss health issues.
Click here for additional LGBTQ+ resources for HCPs, patients, families and allies.
Provided by
This activity is provided by Optum Health Education and Optum California.
Commercial support
No commercial support was received for this activity.
Required hardware/software
Please ensure you are using the web-browser Chrome and disable any pop-up blocking software. Click here for information on how to enable pop-ups.
Presenters
Michelle Garrido, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Valley Medical Center
Van Nuys, CA
Dr. Michelle Garrido is a Los Angeles native who was born to Cuban immigrants. She attended UCLA, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in science, and she received her Master’s degree from California State University, Northridge. She went on to teach high school science for several years. She eventually returned to school for a post-bac program at the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed medical school there. She spent most of her years in Chicago on her beloved fixed-gear bicycle through rain, wind or snow.
Dr. Garrido completed her family medicine training at Harbor-UCLA in Torrance. She is a primary care physician at Optum's Van Nuys clinic. Her biggest clinical interest is in LGBTQ+ health and equitable access to health care. She identifies as a lesbian and uses she/her pronouns. She and her wife have quite the funny and adored five-year-old son, along with two lovely elderly cats. The family resides in the San Fernando Valley.
Dustin Nowaskie, MD
Founder & President
OutCare Health
Indianapolis, IN
Dr. Dustin Nowaskie is a queer and proud provider. His personal identification and civic commitment have culminated in a passion to help the LGBTQ+ community. He is the founder and president of the national nonprofit LGBTQ+ health equity organization OutCare Health, which provides access to LGBTQ+ information, resources, mentorship, education, training, research and providers for hundreds of thousands of people across the country. A Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Southern California and Gold Humanism Honor Scholar of the Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Nowaskie’s clinical and philanthropic work has led to several national accolades, presentations and publications as well as diversity awards from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Tylenol Future Care Foundation, Gamma Mu Foundation, Association of LGBTQ Psychiatrists, World Professional Association for Transgender Health and National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals. His ultimate goal is to transform his might into a powerful unicorn of social and public health change for LGBTQ+ people. For more information on OutCare Health, please visit www.outcarehealth.org.
Activity planners
Elizabeth Albert, MD
Clinical Activity Manager
Optum Health Education
Sarah Chart, RN
Vice President
Optum Health Education
Gina Debogovich
Senior Director, Community & Social Media
Optum
Daniel Khuong
Site Administrator
Optum California
Sally Kikuchi
Senior Director
Operations, Long Beach
Optum
Janelle Metzger
Vice President, Senior Human Capital Partner
Optum
Tiffany Serrantino
Associate Human Capital Partner
Optum California
Van Veloso, MD
Internal Medicine Physician
Optum California
Margaret-Mary Wilson, MD, MBA, MRCP
Associate Chief Medical Officer
UnitedHealth Group
Disclosures of relevant financial relationships
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial SupportSM, Optum Health Education (OHE) requires all those involved in the development of activity content to disclose their relevant financial relationships. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if such person (or his/her spouse/partner) has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest. OHE ensures that the content is independent of commercial bias.
The activity faculty and planners have no financial relationships to disclose.
Method for calculating CE credit
CE credit was calculated based on the complexity of content.
Accreditation statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Optum Health Education and Optum California. Optum Health Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team.
Credit designation statements
This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive 1.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Case managers
The Commission for Case Manager Certification has approved this program for a maximum of 1.50 clock hours for Certified Case Managers (CCM).
Nurses
The participant will be awarded up to 1.50 contact hour(s) of credit for attendance and completion of supplemental materials.
California board of nursing
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number #CEP 15264, for 1.5 contact hours.
Nurse practitioners
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists/Pharmacy technicians
This activity is approved for 1.50 contact hours ([0.15] CEU) in states that recognize ACPE.
Attending the full program will earn 1.50 contact hours.
Unique Activity Number(s): JA0007123-9999-24-044-H99-P/T
Physicians
Optum Health Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The AAFP has reviewed Caring for the LGBTQ+ Community: An Introduction and deemed it acceptable for up to 1.50 Enduring Materials, Self-Study AAFP Prescribed credit. Term of Approval is from 10/15/2024 to 10/15/2025. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
PAs
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Medical assistants
The American Association of Medical Assistants allows up to 30 non-AAMA recertification points for CMAs (AAMA) who are recertifying by continuing education. Please see the following link for more information: http://www.aama-ntl.org/continuing-education/ceus#nonaamaceus
Optometrists
Optum Health Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.50 COPE credit hours. Optometrists should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychologists
Optum Health Education is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for psychologists. Optum Health Education maintains responsibility for this program. 1.50 CE hours.
Social workers
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Optum Health Education is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Optum Health Education maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 enduring continuing education credits.
Counselors and/or marriage and family therapists
CA: The Board of Behavioral Sciences has deferred CE course approvals to APA and ASWB for its licensees. See those approvals under Psychologists and Social Workers.
Other States: If your state is not specifically listed, nearly all state Counselor and MFT boards accept either APA or ASWB approval, or are reciprocal with other state licensing board approvals, such as those listed below. Check with your board to be sure.
Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be provided to learners upon completion of activity requirements, enabling participants to register with licensing boards or associations that have not been preapproved for credits. To apply for credit types not listed above, participants should use the procedure established by the specific organization from which they wish to obtain credit.
Available Credit
- 1.50 AAFP - Family Physicians
- 1.50 ACPE - Pharmacists
- 1.50 ACPE - Pharmacy Technicians
- 1.50 AMA - Physicians
- 1.50 ANCC - Nurses
- 1.50 APA - Psychologists
- 1.50 Attendance - General Attendance
- 1.50 CCMC - General - Case Managers
- 1.50 COPE - Optometrists
You must be logged into your account to participate in this activity. Get started by clicking “Register/Continue” and following the instructions. At the end of the activity, you will be able to view, save or print your certificate of participation. A complete listing of all of your activities can be found under “My Account,” “My Activities.”