Safe and inclusive spaces

Your provider may ask you questions about your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Providers have been trained in how to ask for this information. Your provider may gather information with your consent, including chosen pronouns, legal and chosen names, medical and legal steps you have taken to transition genders (when applicable) and more, to help inform and develop the best plan of care for you. You can also enter this information anytime in your Spectrum Health MyChart account.

We understand that asking people to share pronouns does not tell us anything about a person’s identity, only how that person would like to be addressed—just like using someone’s name. And we know that even if we ask once, identities can change. So we will occasionally check back in. As part of our Courtesy of Care Standards, we promise that: 

• During introductions, we may ask for pronouns, but whether you share that information is up to you. 
• We are versed in common pronouns: she/her/hers; he/him/his; they/them/theirs (singular); ze/hir/hirs. 
• We will not say things like, “I use female pronouns” or “I use male pronouns.”

We’ve upgraded over 300 single-stall restrooms across our campuses to be gender-neutral, and will continue to transition spaces to ensure all facilities have easy-to-access, inclusive restrooms.

Your family is who you say it is. Make sure you have identified your visitors to your care team. For pediatric patients, names of all allowed adult visitors must be on file to ensure safety. 

Spectrum Health follows federal civil rights laws and does not exclude care or discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. For our full policy, visit our nondiscrimination notice and notice of privacy practices.