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Healthcare Access For All Is Important


Guest Kristara

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Guest Kristara

Hello all!

In order for addictions to be helped and support to be given sometimes the utilizing the healthcare system is necessary. We are a couple of girls working on a project to increase the access and avaliability of healthcare for transgendered clients. We work with an organization that provides HIV services in a very depressed urban area.However, we do not only work with HIV+ or at risk clients.

We have been doing research on trans issues, but would like some real life experiences, from people. If you have the time, desire, whatever to answer a few questions for us, we would appreciate it. If this is inappropriate, let us know. You can PM us if you do not feel comfortable talking about it here.

Have you faced discrimination from healthcare professionals? What kind? What happened?

What would make a healthcare professional “trans friendly” to you?

Would you consider going to a healthcare professional who is open to learning about trans issues, even if you feel that you have to educate them?

What are some questions you would ask a doctor to determine whether or not they would be trans friendly?

We are also planning on creating some educational materials or education programs for healthcare professionals regarding trans issues, what would you want healthcare professionals to know?

Anything else?

Of course, we realize that there are so many other issues and that this is only scratching the surface, but again, we have limited funding and are trying to do what we can. Seriously, if we had our way, it would be more than this. If you have suggestions for other programs that would help, we'd love to hear them!

Thank you.

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  • Admin

Here are my responses:

Have you faced discrimination from healthcare professionals? What kind? What happened?

Not so far, thank goodness.

What would make a healthcare professional “trans friendly” to you?

Someone who had at least a working knowledge of trans-related medical issues, such as hormones and their effects and appropriate monitoring of health. Also of importance would be recognition of appropriate gender, i.e doctor and staff using appropriate pronouns, having medical records in the correct name and gender, being treated with respect as opposed to being treated as a medical curiosity.

Would you consider going to a healthcare professional who is open to learning about trans issues, even if you feel that you have to educate them?

Yes, although not my first choice.

What are some questions you would ask a doctor to determine whether or not they would be trans friendly?

It goes back to the answers given above. I would not see a doctor who is not comfortable treating a transperson. I would ask them for their experience with transpeople, their willingness to seek advice from more experienced doctors, and if they would work with me to obtain treatment under my insurance plan whenever possible.

We are also planning on creating some educational materials or education programs for healthcare professionals regarding trans issues, what would you want healthcare professionals to know?

My family physician is very interested in learning more about transition related health issues, and treats me with the utmost respect. She has been enthusiastic and friendly and asks many questions about my progress. She has had trans patients in the past.

Carolyn Marie

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Guest JaniceW

My answers are;

Have you faced discrimination from healthcare professionals? What kind? What happened?

No, thankfully. All of my doctors have been fine when I told them about my trans status and the HRT.

What would make a healthcare professional “trans friendly” to you?

Separating out the doctors that actually supervise my HRT who need to be up on the latest trans information, I would say that sinmply being not put off by trans patients and being willing to incorporate the fact that I am trans into my plan of care is fine with me. I want my cardiologist to be good at cardiology and I don't really care how much they know about trans stuff, but I want them to be respectfull and not uncomfortable with my being trans.

Would you consider going to a healthcare professional who is open to learning about trans issues, even if you feel that you have to educate them?

Yes and I think that most of my doctors will fall into this category as their specialties are in areas of medicine that don't have anything to do with gender or endocrinology. With all that they have to do to stay up to date in their specialty I don't expect them to also be studying trans stuff just for me or whatever small number of their patients that fall into this category.

What are some questions you would ask a doctor to determine whether or not they would be trans friendly?

Except for the doctor who is supervising my HRT, the only question I had for any of my other doctors was "Ae you willing to remain my physcian even though I am trans?"

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Guest Kristara

This is all invaluable feedback THANK YOU!! We really appreciate your input and will be using it as a jumping off point as we build this program.

Kristara

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