Registration and admissions staff are often the first point of contact for patients, meaning that they play a major role in setting expectations for what the experience of care will be like. They are also the primary staff members charged with collecting information directly from patients and patient support figures.
The registration and admissions process is not set up to support detailed conversations related to sexual behavior or specific health risks or concerns. But by providing patients with an early structured opportunity to share demographic information about important aspects of their lives—such as sexual orientation, gender identity, families that may include a same-sex spouse or partner, preferred name, and preferred gender pronoun—registration and admissions staff can be an essential part of communicating a sense of openness and welcome to all patients, including LGBT people.