Many in the healthcare field want to better serve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients, but do not know where to begin or hit roadblocks early on in the process. It is important to have a basic understanding of who your LGBTQ patients are, what kind of health challenges they might face, and what the most relevant information you need from them includes. This involves everything from evaluating how welcoming your office and intake process is too new patients, to understand how to accommodate and advise diverse families on end-of-life and emergency planning, to making sure you are compliant with anti-discrimination and privacy laws. This course will provide an overview of these topics and give you the tools you need to have a successful conversation at your workplace on how to improve the quality of care for LGBTQ patients.While often taken for granted, one’s sexual orientation and gender identity play a large role in one’s health, and thus in one’s experience of the healthcare system. Professionals within the healthcare system may be unaware that aspects of how they welcome patients and maintain records - including how they collect the patient’s sex, gather information on family members, and even call patients by their name from the waiting room - can send a big message to LGBTQ patients on whether or not that facility is welcoming to them. Healthcare professionals may also not be aware of how lacking the right information and data about LGBTQ patients can lead to lower quality of care, privacy problems, and even potential legal liability. This course is designed to give those who work in the healthcare profession a primer on how to begin addressing these issues in their workplaces and to develop real skills and strategies for moving forward. Learning ObjectivesKnow who comprises the LGBTQ community, how to welcome LGBTQ patients to your workplace, and what health disparities LGBTQ patients faceIdentify the relevant information related to sexual orientation and gender identity that should be gathered from patientsAssist patients with diverse family structures in planning ahead and getting proper documentation in the event of a healthcare emergencyUnderstand how privacy and discrimination laws can best be met with respect to LGBTQ clients, their records, and their careWho Should AttendThis course is suitable for both those who have no prior knowledge of the LGBTQ population and those who have some knowledge about LGBTQ individuals but want specific skills for their profession. Anyone who is involved in a patient intake or IT systems, include clerical staff, providers, IT professionals, and compliance officers - can benefit from this course.