“Health News from NPR” just posted an excellent article by nurse Kelli Dunham focused on health disparities in the LGBT community that are aided and abetted by inadequate care for LGBT people and their families.  She points to the recent American Association of Medical College’s report titled “Implementing Curricular and Institutional Climate Changes to Improve Health Care for Individuals Who Are LGBT, Gender Nonconforming, or Born with DSD: A Resource for Medical Educators” as a major step in guiding health care professions to prepare providers who are culturally competent to provide quality care for LGBT folks.

As Kelli points out, the challenges to providing universally competent care for all people are huge, but just a few very simple changes can be implemented now, including fundamental acceptance of each person as a person  and acceptance of each patient’s significant other, regardless of who that person is.  Kelli brings her wonderful comedic talent to addressing this very important, and sensitive issue in health care –

There is no such thing as a lesbian knee, or a lesbian armpit or a lesbian neck — at least I’ve never dated one — but each human being comes to health care with a context and a story, and they both are vitally important.

Congratulations, Kelli on your excellent report, and thank you for getting this message out on a major news outlet!!