A landmark study is underway at Stony Brook Medicine aimed at improving LGBTQ+ health care on Long Island.

It's called the LGBTQ+ Community Health Needs Assessment Survey. The goal of the online survey is to provide members of the Island's LGBTQ+ community with a chance to state their health care needs so that Stony Brook Medicine and its partners can provide better health care in a culturally sensitive and safe environment.

Dr. Allison Eliscu says there's a need for a survey like this since many in the LGBTQ+ community don't seek medical care because they feel misunderstood.

“Here on Long Island, there's almost no information about the LGBTQ population, so we're really trying to gain more information about our local community,” says Dr. Eliscu. " We want to improve resources, we want to make sure there's good access to care to all individuals who live or attend school here on Long Island, and I think the survey will be able to do that.”

The survey runs through June 30. It is anonymous and open to all LGBTQ+ adults 18 years and older who live in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The survey can be completed online.