Just-launched Spectrum Scores provides a numerical score for healthcare providers based on how welcoming and competent they are for the LGBTQ community.

Spectrum Scores aims to make healthcare better for the LGBTQ community.

SpectrumScores.org launched last week as an online portal to research, find and review healthcare providers who are welcoming to the LGBTQ community and competent in the healthcare needs specific to this group. The healthcare providers are reviewed by members of the LGBT community, much like the Zocdoc Inc. site or Yelp.com for restaurants.

“This is more targeted for the needs to the LGBT community,” says Phil Williams one of Spectrum Scores’ co-founders. The three co-founders—Williams, Naveen Jain and Jun Jeon—are all medical students.

Williams cites a 2009 Lambda Legal survey of 4,916 LGBT people, that 56% of lesbian, gay and bisexual patients have faced discrimination in healthcare settings or barriers to high quality care, such as being refused needed care; healthcare professionals refusing to touch them or using excessive precautions; healthcare professionals using harsh or abusive language; being blamed for their health status; or healthcare professionals being physically rough or abusive. About 70% of transgender patients have faced the same issues, according to that study.

What’s more, out of fear for discrimination, LGBTQ individuals may not disclose their sexual orientation to their healthcare providers or may not seek out care in a timely way, Williams says.

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“That has serious healthcare implications just in terms of types of cancer screening that a patient might need or the sexually transmitted infections, or STI, screening a patient might need,” Williams says. “Plus, just in terms of building rapport, this is a huge part of these community members’ lives and the healthcare provider can’t operate to the best of his or her ability without this information.”

Spectrum Scores aims to combat these issues by allowing LGBTQ people to find healthcare providers that understand their needs and to go into the appointment without fear of discrimination.

Beyond a written review of a healthcare provider, Spectrum Scores  lists a numerical score for each provider based on four criteria that the reviewer input. The four areas are: a welcome environment, LGBTQ knowledge, inclusive processes and overall satisfaction. Patients rate the healthcare provider with a score 1-5 in each of those areas, and then the composite score will show underneath the doctor’s name when a patient searches for a healthcare provider.

Welcoming environment refers to if the office appears to be open to all people, such as having a friendly staff, posters about non-discriminatory practices and rainbows. Inclusive processing refers to if the sign-in forms have options for the patient to identify his or her sexual orientation and gender beyond the traditional options of “male or female.” Healthcare providers can list more options or have a fill-in-the-blank line. LGBTQ Knowledge is based on how much the provider knows about services and needs specific to the LGBTQ community, such as PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is when people are at a high risk for HIV and take medication to lower their chances of getting the infections), gender confirmation surgery and hormone replacement therapy. Overall satisfaction is a rating on the entire healthcare visit.

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Spectrum Scores determined this criteria based on consulting more than 50 healthcare leaders and member of the LGBTQ community as well as researching published studies, Williams says.

On the website, a patient can enter her address and the type of doctor or treatment she needs, to find a list of healthcare providers near to her with the numerical score listed and reviews underneath each provider.

The site is available for consumers to use in four cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburg, New York City and Chicago.  However, because the site just launched, very few healthcare providers have a score or reviews.

The co-founders are working to advertise with local LGBTQ media to let consumers know about the site. They are also running Facebook ad campaigns.

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The co-founders do not have a revenue model yet. They may consider advertising, Williams says.

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