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Penn State Health patients may now share their pronouns in their medical record

Penn State Health patients may now opt to include their pronouns in their electronic medical record (EMR). This new initiative furthers our commitment to promoting health equity and inclusion. It also mirrors the practice of an increasing number of hospitals and health systems nationwide that ask for patients’ pronoun preferences.

Using a patient’s correct personal pronouns is an act of respect that helps create an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard and seen for their genuine selves. This not only improves the patient experience by fostering a sense of safety, quality and trust, it also ensures that patients can be authentic without fear of discrimination or judgment.

Preferred pronoun use advances health equity

The use of preferred pronouns is also a crucial step in advancing health equity. It creates a safe and respectful environment that significantly improves every patient’s experience at Penn State Health and contributes to reducing health disparities for diverse communities, a requirement of both The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

“It’s important to recognize that making assumptions about a person’s gender based on appearance can be damaging and dangerous,” said Heather Doyle, program director for health equity in the health system’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “Patients may not conform to traditional gender expectations, and their pronouns might not align with what one might assume. For instance, a patient who appears to be female may not necessarily use “she/her/hers” pronouns. Assumptions about a person’s pronouns can send a potentially harmful message that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate gender.”

Understanding gender-diverse youth 

Gen Y (born 1980–1994) and Gen Z (born 1995–2009) are more likely to identify as gender nonconforming, which means they do not conform to traditional male/female gender norms, or nonbinary, meaning they do not identify as solely male or female. A study by the Trevor Project indicated that:

  • 26% of Gen Z who classified as queer are nonbinary, with an additional 20% questioning their gender identity.
  • 33% of nonbinary young people use they/them pronouns exclusively, 20% use she/they and 16% use he/they, with only 6% using he/her or she/her.
  • For Gen Y, 12% identify as gender nonconforming.

Gender nonconforming and transgender youth face higher rates of depression and suicidality, which can be reduced by providing a supportive environment, including using the appropriate pronouns.

“It’s vital that Penn State Health cultivates an environment where every patient feels safe and respected, regardless of their generational group or gender identity,” Doyle said. “Your cooperation in using preferred pronouns will go a long way to improve this aspect of the patient experience.”

Being a role model to colleagues 

Some health system employees may have concerns or encounter resistance when asking patients for their pronouns. As an organization united by our RITE values and with a vision to be Pennsylvania’s most trusted health care organization, we are committed to respecting the humanity of all our patients.

For more information on the effect of pronoun inquiry on health equity, contact Heather Doyle, program director for health equity, also in the Diversity Office, at hdoyle@pennstatehealth.psu.edu. To learn more about how asking patients for their pronouns affects patient experience, contact Churukha at cchurukha@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Employees will receive more information about how to ask patients for their pronouns, as well as how to include this information in the patient EMR, in a future update.

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