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LGBTQIA+ Resources

You Belong Here.

University of Michigan Health-West is committed to being a safe and inclusive organization to our entire patient population. This includes welcoming individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities. At UM Health-West, we recognize LGBTQIA+ individuals experience healthcare disparities at disproportionately higher rates and have taken steps to ensure our LGBTQIA+ patients can achieve their highest level of wellness.

These include:

  • Implementing a Sexual Orientation – Gender Identity (SOGI) cultural competency training, required of UM Health-West workforce members at hire as well as annual refresher training.
  • Creating space in our MyChart patient-access portal for individuals to communicate their sexual orientation and personal pronouns during eCheck-In.
  • Implementing SOGI data collect in our Electronic Medical Record (EMR), including the name the patient would like to be called (if different from legal name), personal pronouns, sexual orientation, gender identity, transition status/transition planning as well as an organ inventory.
  • Adding personal pronouns to our employee badges to facilitate a culture of safety and inclusiveness.

Your rights as an LGBTQIA+ patient, family, family member or caregivier

  • The ability and quality of care at the hospital shall not be influenced by patient’s race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, age or disability. (RM-27)
  • Each patient (or support person, where appropriate) has the right, subject to his or her consent, to receive the visitors whom he or she designates, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend, and his or her right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time (RM-27)
  • Families are welcome 24 hours a day according to patient preference. Family members, as identified by the patient, provide support, comfort, and important information during their hospital stay regardless of time of day, day of week or department. (SEC-07)

‘Family’ at UM Health-West means

A group of individuals with a continued legal, genetic and/or emotional relationship as defined by the patient, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same sex domestic partner), another family member or a friend.

Resources

For LGBTQIA+ Individuals

Local

Statewide (Michigan)

National

For Healthcare Professionals

Local

Statewide (Michigan)

National

For Families, Caregivers & Allies

Local

Statewide (Michigan)

National