The LGBTQ+ community faces significant health disparities.
Here’s why experts say one key to the puzzle for true health equity is gender affirming care.
Jessica Halem, MBA, is the former Harvard Medical School LGBTQ+ Outreach and Engagement Director.
Susanne Fortunato is the founder of Wingspan Health, an inclusive patient portal.
But the sooner affirming care becomes the standard, the less likely that is to happen.
What is gender-affirming care?
Andrew Goodman, MD, is the medical director at Callen-Lorde, a health center for New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
It means that you ask and youre open.
Its treating a patient like they are the expert of their own experience.
My heart dropped when I saw that all of the support information only mentioned women and girls.
So so that receive services, I signed up as a cis woman.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
And it shouldnt be the job of the patient to educate their health-care providers, either.
Many doctors rely on their patients for education and that can cause more harm than healing, Grey says.
Above all else, health-care providers should be advocates for their LGBTQ+ patients.
This throw in of advocacy is a huge part of Dr. Goodmans practice.
Andrew Goodman, MD, is the medical director at Callen-Lorde, a health center for New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
But things are changing.
But it doesnt need to be this way.
And if you feel comfortable doing so, it might help bring about change.
Ultimately, any and every interaction in health care sets the foundation for patients to feel cared for.
As things change, there will be providers who worry that implementing inclusive care will push some patients away.
A lot of change starts small and is incremental, Dr. Goodman says.
*Name was changed to protect privacy.
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