Berkshire LGBTQ-Welcoming Health Provider Roundtable (Pittsfield, MA)

10/29 Berkshire LGBTQ-Welcoming Health Provider Roundtable (Pittsfield, MA)

Thursday 5:30-7:30pm
The Berkshire Innovation Center
45 Woodlawn Ave, Pittsfield, MA 01201

SHORT DESCRIPTION: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, BHS, Q-MoB, & Western Mass Rainbow Pages are convening LGBTQ-welcoming health providers in the Berkshires for a Roundtable to assess needs & visions for improving Provider & LGBTQ community health.

NOTE: This event is for licensed or credentialed health providers who are LGBTQ-welcoming, including doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychologists, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses (RN, LPN, CNM), mental health counselors/therapists, physical & ocupational therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, lab techs, EMTs & paramedics, naturopathic physicians, dieticians, licensed massage therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, & other health providers state-credentialed to provide patient care.

DRAFT EVENT SCHEDULE:

5:30-5:45pm Gathering to get food/beverages & mingle

5:45-6:00 Welcome about the Strengths the Berkshires Have In LGBTQ Health & Health Promotion

• Welcome by BHS showcasing the ways BHS is already being LGBTQ-welcoming, including Health Equity Index LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equity High Performer designation

• Welcome by Jaymie Zapata, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Manager of Public Health Planning, about LGBTQ Rural Health Public Health Data (isolation risk factors; chronic illness disparities)

6:00-6:30pm First Table Discussion

5 Tables for Collaborative Conversations & Notetaking to Inform 1 Year BRPC Initiative to support LGBTQ Health Providers & their Patients:

1. QUALITY OF LIFE: What could improve the quality of your life as an LGBTQ-welcomng health provider & what support could your peers provide? What support do you have at work & outside of work? Set goal for the year of what we might do to support provider quality of life.Nominated Provider Facilitor:
2. PROVIDER COLLABORATION: What could we do to provide meaningful collaboration between providers around the special needs of LGBTQ patients with multiple conditions. Set goal for the year of offering a monthly case consultation video chat or quarterly virtual roundsNominated Provider Co- Facilitatosr:
3. CME: What things would you like to learn about the health needs and challenges of rural LGBTQ people in the Berkshire? What CME topics would you like us to provide & when? Berkshire Pride training. Set goal for the year of what CME classes we’d like.
4. PREVENTION & HEALTH EDUCATION: How could we promote better health prevention education in the rural LGBTQ community in the Berkshires & who could lead those efforts & how might we fund them? Handouts & resource lists for LGBTQ patients?
5. PROVIDER COMMUNITY BUILDING: 1. How could we broaden, deepen, & diversify the community of LGBTQ-welcoming health providers, 2. Educate new practitioners and residents, 3. reach out to Medical Residents, Behavioral Health & social work providers, providers working with immigrants, BIPOC providers, Latino & Spanish-speaking providers, Dental Providers, healthcare administrators; and 4. make it easier for LGBTQ patients to find LGBTQ-welcoming providers

6:30-7:00 2nd Table Discussion

7:00-7:15 Report Out from Tables

7:15-7:30pm Next Steps & What worked tonight

MORE INFO: If you have questions not answered by the information above please SEND US A NOTE or call 413-344-8162