The database will feature recommendations about doctors who have done a great job, shown empathy or been willing to upskill. Photo: The Gender Spectrum Collection
Two Canterbury University students are developing a database which they hope will help members of the rainbow communities to get better healthcare.
University of Canterbury students Nat Young and Amber Jones are aiming to improve healthcare and accessibility for LGBTQIA+ clients by creating Prism, a database of vetted healthcare providers.
Nat Young, who is studying towards Master of Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury and a Bachelor of Nursing through Ara Institute of Canterbury, said many people from rainbow communities encounter discrimination in the health sector.
"I know a lot of people who've had bad experiences and are now too scared to access care. Or they don't want to spend more money on appointments with GPs who aren't equipped to help them.
"We really want to make sure they feel comfortable going to the doctor early so they don't end up having adverse health outcomes later on."
The database will allow users to access information about vetted healthcare providers for free, and provide anonymous feedback on their experiences with the healthcare provider after an appointment.
The information will be moderated.
"Our approach is to concentrate on positives rather than highlighting negatives," Jones said.
"We want to feature recommendations about doctors who have done a great job and shown empathy or been willing to upskill and find out things - even if that's just how to use the right pronouns - so they can provide the best care."
The pair took part in the University of Canterbury's Centre for Entrepreneurship's Summer Startup Programme, which offers advice, guidance and workshops to help students fast-track their business ventures.
Jones said Prism had "grown exponentially" as a result of the input from mentors and experts.
"We now have a board of advisers and a potential private investor who wants to help us develop a minimum viable product."
The database was expected to be launched in July with a University of Canterbury-based trial.
