Planning and implementing sexual orientation and gender identity data collection in electronic health records

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people experience significant health disparities across the life course and require health care that addresses their unique needs. Collecting information on the sexual orientation and gender identity (SO/GI) of patients and entering SO/GI data in electronic health records has been recommended by the Institute of Medicine, the Joint Commission, and the Health Resources and Services Administration as fundamental to improving access to and quality of care for LGBTQ people. Most healthcare organizations, however, have yet to implement a system to collect SO/GI data due to multiple barriers. This report addresses those concerns by presenting recommendations for planning and implementing high-quality SO/GI data collection in primary care and other health care practices based on current evidence and best practices developed by a federally qualified health center and leader in LGBTQ health care.