There are some changes to the way incoming patients to Markham-Stouffville Hospital will be welcomed.
Oak Valley Health, of which the Markham facility is a part, along with, Southlake Regional Health Care, and Stevenson Memorial Hospital announced the addition of pronouns into their electronic health records system, Meditech.
Oak Valley Health is now asking “would you like to share your pronouns?’ at patient registration.
Understanding and recognizing gender identities are part of delivering inclusive, patient-centred health care.
Using pronouns correctly is a sign of safety and respect – an environment all three organizations strive to achieve.
All members of a health care organization – front-line staff, clinicians, and administrators – play a crucial role in offering an inclusive, affirming experience for all people, including those with non-binary gender identities.
One way to assure proper pronoun use is to collect this information from the start. Once the patient provides consent for their identified pronoun to be used, it will be entered into the shared platform and the pronouns will be used by the care team. The goal is to improve care for LGBTQ2S+ people through new features in Meditech, including adding pronouns, which will follow the patient through every encounter.
“We have already heard positive feedback from our staff and patients, about how meaningful this small action will be for our community. This is a step in the right direction,” says Jo-anne Marr, President & CEO, Oak Valley Health. “Asking a person’s pronouns serves as a statement about the value our organization places on individual identity and supporting both our health care workers and our patients in being their authentic selves.”
Recently, the organization has hired a Manager, Language Navigation, Equity Diversity and Inclusion and Resilience in Stressful Events. This new role will lead EDI development, design, and implementation work and is a key step forward in demonstrating Oak Valley Health’s commitment to inclusivity.
