Creating an Inclusive Urology Practice

Abstract

Purpose of Review: Patients seeking urologic care come from diverse backgrounds. Therefore, clinics should strive for inclusivity to make all patients feel comfortable seeing a urologist. This review aims to outline and analyze literature relevant to the care of LGTBQIA+ (lesbian, gay, transgender/transexual, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/allies, nonbinary/genderqueer +), racial and ethnic minorities, those who have disabilities, and those with a high body mass index (BMI). Although this review article presents the care of diverse communities separately, there is an overlap of the various social axes influencing healthcare outcomes. Healthcare workers should be open-minded to learning about evolving community needs. Recent Findings: Creating a safe space for LGTBQIA+ requires understanding terminology, awareness of community-specific challenges and health risks, and changing heteronormative behaviors built into medicine. Specific clinical care delivery structural processes and patient-physician-centered practices can make a clinic welcoming for patients from underrepresented backgrounds and with disabilities. BMI surgical requirements may pose barriers to care, and if implemented, there should be assistance to reach specified weight goals. Summary: Creating an inclusive urology clinical practice takes time, but it can be achieved by building a collaborative team. Treating patients with consideration of their personal identities and social determinants of health will lead to better patient-center care and health outcomes.