Health Care Provider or Health Care Professional
Hear this word Health Care Provider or Health Care Professional
Image description: Healthcare providers and their services
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What Is It?
A health care provider is someone who is licensed to provide health care services.
Licensed means that the person went to school to study health care and how to provide safe services and received official permission to provide those services.
Doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and physician assistants are examples of health care providers.
An Example
Whenever Luz has a health care appointment, they create a list of questions to ask their health care provider. Sometimes Luz asks someone they trust to help them make the list and to help them practice asking questions, so they feel confident during their visit.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- Personal care attendants may provide privacy to the people they support during health care provider appointments.
- The health care provider should communicate directly to the patient, not to their personal care attendant.
- During an appointment, a health care provider will ask questions about symptoms, relevant experiences (such as sexual partners), and any changes in the body. It is important to be honest and clear with our answers so that the doctor can help us. Sometimes, it can be helpful to think about answers to possible questions before a visit.
- Make sure the health care provider is asking you for consent throughout your health care appointment. If they do something you do not like, tell them to stop. Ask the health care provider questions about what they are doing and ask them to clarify what they are saying if you do not understand.
Think about
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What questions might you ask a health care provider before a visit?
Create a list of questions and symptoms to help you feel more clear, confident, and comfortable during your appointment.
Before your visit, call your provider to make sure they are prepared to support you. Ask about accessible equipment, insurance options, medical interpretation, accessible building design, nearby transportation, and anything else you need for a comfortable visit.
Do you want to learn more about health care providers?
To learn more, explore websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub or visit other parts of Your Sexual Health Toolkit like our online game, Our Stories, Our Journeys: A Sexual Health Game!
