Availability of Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation Data: An Electronic Medical Record Review of a Catholic Healthcare System from 2012-2023.

PURPOSE

The study purpose was to describe the availability of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation (SOGI) data in a large, Catholic health system.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review on the Sisters of St. Mary (SSM) Health database was conducted from January 1, 2012, to March 27, 2024. The availability of SOGI data and number of sexual and gender minority patients was reported.

RESULTS

Among the 5,759,869 records, data on sex was available for the majority of the population (99.9 percent); data on gender identity and sexual orientation were reported for smaller proportions (7.4 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively). Sex and gender were reported among 7.4 percent of the population. A total of 4,567 gender minority and 14,644 sexual minority patients were seen.

CONCLUSION

Though SOGI data were largely unavailable in the SSM Health database, the system has the capacity to separately record sex, gender, and sexual orientation, with a range of response options to capture gender and sexual orientation diversity.