Stony Brook Medicine is gearing up to administer the first LGBTQ+ community health needs assessment survey on Long Island.
The survey is a landmark study seeking vital data that will shape the future of LGBTQ+ healthcare in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
According to a press release issued by Stony Brook Medicine last week, it represents the collaborative efforts of Stony Brook Medicine in partnership with more than 20 Long Island-based organizations and community leaders who, combined, reach all sectors of the LGBTQ+ community through advocacy programming and services.
The need for the survey became clear as Stony Brook Medicine began planning with Stony Brook Southampton Hospital for the medical expansion and relocation of the Edie Windsor Healthcare Center, formerly known as the David E. Rogers, M.D. Center. The mission for the Edie Windsor Center is to provide compassionate, world-class quality healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community in a culturally sensitive and safe environment. It will reopen this month as Long Island’s first comprehensive LGBTQ+ Health Center.
“There is scarce quantitative information available either nationally or regionally on the healthcare needs of LGBTQ+ persons,” said Margaret M. McGovern, MD, PhD, Knapp Professor of Pediatrics, Dean for Clinical Affairs and Vice President Health System Clinical Programs and Strategy at Stony Brook Medicine. “We engaged in a dialogue with regional healthcare providers and community-based organizations who acknowledged the significant gap in information and collaborated on survey development and administration.”
“The goal of the survey is to provide members of Long Island’s LGBTQ+ community with an opportunity to state their healthcare needs so that Stony Brook Medicine and our partners can better support them and advocate on their behalf,” said Allison H. Eliscu, M.D., Medical Director of the Adolescent LGBTQ+ Care Program at Stony Brook Medicine, and Principal Investigator of the study. “The information requested in the LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment Survey is critical as healthcare providers, social service providers, government officials and public health staff move to expand service offerings and serve as effective advocates.”
“The LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment Survey is online, anonymous and open to all LGBTQ+ adults age 18 years and older, including those questioning their identity, and who currently reside in either Nassau or Suffolk counties,” said Robert S. Chaloner, chief administrative officer, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. “Eligible respondents also include college, university and technical school students on Long Island who are 18 years or older, regardless of their permanent address.”
The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and the link will be distributed by the partnership organizations during “Pride Month,” from June 1 through June 30. Respondents are encouraged to forward the survey link to eligible friends and colleagues.
“We need all of those adults who identify as LGBTQ+ adults and who reside or attend school in Nassau and Suffolk Counties to participate in the LGBTQ+ Health Needs Survey,” said Gregson Pigott, MD, MPH, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. “This survey will give voice to all the sectors of Long Island’s LGBTQ+ community about their healthcare experiences and challenges and help shape the future of LGBTQ+ services on Long Island.”
27east on Jun 7, 2021