An ad hoc committee will plan and conduct a public workshop on collecting sexual orientation and gender identity data in electronic health records. The workshop will feature invited presentations and facilitated discussions about current practices around sexual orientation and gender identity data collection, the challenges in collecting these data, and ways in which these challenges can be overcome.

Areas of focus for the workshop will include the clinical rationale behind collecting these data, standardized questions that can be used to collect these data, mechanisms for supporting providers and patients in the collection of these data, technical specifications involved in creating standards for sexual orientation and gender identity data collection and exchange, and policy considerations related to electronic health records as part of the Meaningful Use process being overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The committee will develop the workshop agenda, select invited speakers and discussants, and moderate the discussions. Invited participants will include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health care consumer advocates, providers with experience working with LGBT populations, vendors of electronic health records and other health information technology specialists, health care administrators, and policymakers. A workshop summary will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with NRC policies and procedures.