How Novant Health is ensuring better outcomes for LGBTQ+ patients

Research shows that when LGBTQ+ patients have higher levels of trust in their health care providers, communication improves. The evidence-based result? Better health outcomes for patients who identify as lesbian, gay, transgender, queer and other sexual orientations and gender identities.

Caring for the LGBTQ+ community is a critical part of Novant Health’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity. That’s why Novant Health — recognized, along with 14 of its hospitals, as a “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality,” by the Human Rights Campaign — is working to identify and eliminate health care disparities and improve cultural competence.

Here are three of the many steps Novant Health has taken to improve access to health care and meet the unique needs of this vulnerable community:

1. The Physician Finder allows patients to browse doctors and make appointments. With updated filters, including sexual orientation and transgender health care training, you can quickly and easily locate LGBTQ+ friendly providers with the knowledge and experience necessary to caring for this community. Simply type those letters into the search field.

“Being able to find a provider who is affirming and really understands you is important to your health,” said Gina Fambrough, vice president of health equity operations and performance. “Now, patients can be assured that they're seeing someone who they can really connect with.”

Novant Health has 47 doctors and health care clinicians who have increased knowledge and experience in serving the LGBTQ+ community.

2. A medical director of LGBTQ+ services is a position that only a handful of hospital systems across the country have designated. At Novant Health, Dr. Cramer McCullen is proud to fill this role, and on a mission to ensure patients are welcomed and heard.

In 2023, McCullen held 32 educational sessions with Novant Health family medicine, primary care and pediatric clinicians to help all team members understand the health care needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Key in this is creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ patients to be themselves, and voice their concerns.

“Everyone, when they come to a healthcare provider, wants to be seen and understood for who they are,” McCullen said.

3. Novant Health hospitals and clinics use the SOGI questionnaire, a survey of sexual orientation and gender identity questions, to allow patients to voluntarily and confidentially disclose their gender identity to their health care clinicians. The SOGI questionnaire helps health care clinicians create culturally responsive care that is focused on patients' specific needs. Novant Health has more than 18,000 patients who have shared that they are part of the LGBTQ+ community using the SOGI questionnaire.