Are Healthcare Providers Prepared to Provide Care for the LGBT Community?

Current research generally questions that the healthcare system does not provide as adequate services for the LGBT community as there are for heterosexuals. Baumle’s research show that health care benefits were not equal for LGBT and provided health insurance percentages were lower for gays and lesbians than for heterosexuals (2014). Understanding and improving the factors that influence the health of LGBT people is limited due the the lack of population-based data (The Pride Study 2015). In order to begin improving the health and health care of the LGBT community, awareness and practice of providing appropriate care for this certain population must be raised. In my project I plan to interview health care providers to see if they are ready and prepared to apply their practices to the needs of the LGBT community. Not only if they are prepared, but also for any experiences with individuals of the LGBT community with accessing health care. Also I want to know how certain barriers to access to health care and stigmas affected their physical and mental health