Taking an Inclusive Sexual History

Overview:

Designed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to take comprehensive sexual histories from patients, this course focuses on creating a safe and inclusive environment for patients, particularly those from the LGBTQIA+ community. The course is divided into three sections: Before the Visit, During the Visit, and Post Visit, ensuring a comprehensive approach to understanding and conducting sexual history assessments. 

Our expert instructor, Dr. Alex Gonzalez, acts as your guide, showcasing example language and frameworks to empower you on this essential aspect of healthcare practice. This evidence-based course incorporates several scenarios of fictional but realistic clinician / patient interactions. Get ready to enhance your skills and make a positive impact on patient care!

Target Audience

This course is designed for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, pharmacists, dentists, and medical students and residents.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the importance of taking a sexual history as part of providing caring, competent, and comprehensive clinical care.

2. Identify the essential components of a sexual history.

3. Recognize obstacles to obtaining a sexual history in a clinical setting, as well as ways to overcome these obstacles.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 1.50 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
  • 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit
  • 1.50 Nursing Hours
  • 1.50 Completion
Course opens: 
12/18/2023
Course expires: 
12/18/2026


Alex Gonzalez, MD, MPH (he/him)

Alex Gonzalez, MD, MPH is the Internal Medicine Chief at Atrius Health’s Copley site, where he oversees a staff of over a dozen physicians and nurse practitioners in the delivery of comprehensive medical care to approximately 25,000 patients. Previously, he served as medical director at Fenway Health, an LGBTQIA+ focused federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Boston. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an Attending Physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and a certified HIV Specialist with the American Academy of HIV Medicine. He was named the Outstanding Massachusetts Community Health Center Physician by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers in 2016, and in 2022 he received the Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP) LGBT Health Workforce Conference Health Professional Leadership Award.

Clinical Advisors

Chloe Schwenke, PhD, (she/her) is President and Founder of the Center for Values in International Development, based in Washington, DC. She has focused on LGBTQ+ issues, inclusive development, gender equality/equity, democracy/governance, and human rights during her career. Dr. Schwenke served under President Obama as the first openly transgender political appointee in the federal foreign affairs agencies, where she was active on LGBTI human rights and development issues globally. Later, she was Vice President at Freedom House, where she led the Dignity for All program to support LGBTI human rights. Her career includes international development project experience in over 40 countries.

Paul J. Doherty, MD, FAAP, (he/him) serves as the Pediatric LGBTQ+ Clinical Lead at Mary’s Center (with locations in Washington, DC & Maryland) where he has practiced for over ten years. While he counts himself lucky to see a rich diversity of patients and families at Mary’s Center, he is particularly welcoming to LGBTQ+ patients and families, or those who have questions about those issues.

Relevant Financial Relationships

There are no relevant financial relationships to declare.

Anti-discrimination Policy

Dr. Gonzalez and the advisors have agreed to our anti-discrimination policy that prohibits the inclusion of discriminatory language, graphics, or references on the basis of race, gender identity, age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion.

PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACY TECHNICIANS

Innovation Horizons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. Innovation Horizons designates this enduring material for:

ACPE Pharmacist: (1.5 Contact Hour) UAN: JA4008411-0000-25-039-H99-P

ACPE Pharmacy Technician: (1.5 Contact Hour) UAN: JA4008411-0000-25-039-H99-T

PHYSICIANS – AMA CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

Innovation Horizons designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

NURSES – ANCC CREDIT DESIGNATION STATEMENT

Innovation Horizons designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.5 ANCC contact hours. Nursing contact hours will be awarded for successful completion of program components based upon documented attendance and completion of evaluation materials

JOINT ACCREDITATION

In support of improving patient care, Innovation Horizons is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

IPCE CREDITS

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.5 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 ACPE Pharmacist
  • 1.50 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
  • 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit
  • 1.50 Nursing Hours
  • 1.50 Completion
Please login or register to take this course.

Required Hardware/Software

High-Speed Internet Connection

Adobe Reader for PDF file download

Browser:

  • This educational activity has been tested in the latest versions of Edge, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome browsers on Windows or Macintosh computers. 
  • The Safari, Firefox, or Chrome browsers are recommended for best results. 
  • The Internet Explorer browser is not recommended as it is no longer supported by Microsoft.