Find the health care resources you need as an LGBTQIA+ person

you are an LGBTQIA+ person, you could have probably faces challenges in finding a safe, There are many great resources available for queer and trans people looking for new providers, but they are not always easy to find.

And making sure you find the right provider is important for your long run-long-term health goals. A lack of eexpert can cause concern for members of the LGBTQIA+ community negative health outcomes, especially for trans and gender diverse people, who are more likely to experience poor physical and mental health compared to cisgender peopleAn increased risk of healthcare discrimination, which has led many trans patients to avoid seeking needed healthcare

Careless of your identity or experience, you deserve expert care from a provider who listens and listens sees You. While many obstacles still exist, there are a few important tips and strategies to keep in mind as you search for a provider for your personalized healthcare needs. Below are some tips to help you find confirmation provider who has been informed about your specific needs as an LGBTQIA+ person.

Over there Are a lot of reasons why you might do that find a provider for LGBTQIA+-related care.

• Ffind a doctor who regularly treats youer and/or trans patients,
• bfor example, hormone therapy for gender transition,
• Ffind a provider who understands you needs as intersex person,
• Learn more on fertility treatments and other familybuilding options,
• Ssharp the HIV prevention medication PrEP, or,
• Seek Many other shapeS from cArewhether it is for your mental or physical health.

Tip 1: Research before you book an appointment

It may be the only information you have can information about a provider’s experiences with LGBTQIA+ patients could be a rainbow icon on their website or a flag on the door. This is a good start, but learning more about their offerings can help you connect with the right provider for your specific concern. Do your research prior to an in-person or telehealth appointment to ensure the provider will meet your affirmative care needs.

Here are a few ways to get started that research:

• Look up reviews online last patients for mention of the care you are seeking. Is it mentioned that the clinic worked with queer potential parents on IUI treatments, for example, or that there is a history of offering hormone therapy to trans patients during their gender transition?
• Ask other LGBTQIA+ colleagues in your area where they have received excellent concern. Word of mouth from a trusted source can speak volumes when you’re looking for an affirmative provider. This can happen in person among friends and family or online in social media groupssuch as Facebook or Reddit, committed to seeking recommendations from others in LGBTQIA+ communities.
• Check your healthcare provider’s website or call the practice directly and ask! A provider truly committed to safe, affirming care must have someone in their practice available to answer specific questions about care care they provide under the LGBTQIA+ flag.

“A transgender or gender diverse person should call before making an appointment and ask, ‘Do you work specifically with transgender people? Do you offer hormone treatments?’” – Dr. Brett Herb, DSW, LCSW.

Tip 2: Check the folders

Providers with training in Providing personalized care to LGBTQIA+ patients is often mentioned in professional guides that advertise high standards of care for queer and trans patients. These directories are usually free and available online, making them easy to use check.

Some of these organizations and directories include:

• The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH): WPATH’s mission includes and continues to include advancing evidence-based care in transgender health standards of care for patients with gender dysphoria. A WPATH member provider are familiar with these standards of care. ChristianaCare has several providers that are members of WPATH.
• GLMA: Health professionals advancing LGBTQ equality (GLMA) is a national organization committed to ensuring equity in healthcare (what does that mean everyou have An equal opportunities to range their highest level of health) for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and queer communities. They maintain the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory, a free healthcare database of healthcare providers who to understand the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people in the United States and Canada.
• Healthcare Equity Index (HEI): Produced by the Campaign for human rightsthe HEI measures healthcare institutions’ policies and practices regarding equality and inclusive treatment of LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and employees. ChristianaCare is proud of it achieved a perfect score of 100 and being named “LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader” by the HOI for eleven years in a row.
• PrEP service finder: The PrEP Services Locator is maintained by PleasePrEPMe, an organization that connects patients with providers who offer life-saving medications to prevent HIV. This allows patients to search by zip code for a place where they can get advice about a prescription.
• You can find other HOI rated facilities here interactive map.

“I want patients to have all the tools they need to get what they need from the health care system.” – Alex Waad, MA, NBC-HWC.

Tip 3: Use patient relationships

As an LGBTQIA+ person, you may have had bad experiences with non-affirming or poorly trained healthcare providers in the past. If this happens to you again, know that you have options – and that big networks and individual providers both would like to hear from you about your experiences.

For large mediumcal groups, such as a university medical center or other organization: If your first appointment does not meet your needs or you would like to report a problem, Find out if the center has one Patient Relations team, like it the one at ChristianaCare. Patient relations specialists are trained as advocates who can help patients with communication and conflict resolution. They can also help you find a new provider in the group as your previous provider wasn’t the right thing fiT.

For private providers or small practices without affiliation with a big medical group: If your first meeting with a solo provider is not the right choice, the best next step is to return to Tips 1 and 2. Use the WPATH entriesHEY rankings or LGBTQ+ healthcare Directorj to see what other options are available near you and look at thOr online reviews or word of mouth. If you feel comfortable with that, yold can Also leave your provYou know why the interaction didn’t sit well with you.

ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital and Christiana Hospital were mentioned Leaders in LGBTQIA+ healthcare equity since 2012.

Dr. Brett E. Herb, DSW, LCSW (he/him) is the Program Manager for the Gender Wellness Program at ChristianaCare. He has been working in clinical practice for over 25 years.

Alex Waad, MA, NBC-HWC (she/he) is a program manager and clinical health coach in healthcare at ChristianaCare and a graduate research assistant in health behavior science and promotion at the University of Delaware.