6 Ways to Tell If Your Doctor’s Office Is Trans-Friendly
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Finding a primary care doctor, specialist, or even a dentist can be a tedious trial-and-error process for anyone, but even more so for members of the transgender community, who can face discomfort and discrimination from healthcare providers.
The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, published by the National Center for Transgender Equality, for instance, found that one-third of trans respondents who’d seen a specialist in the previous year reported a negative experience related to being trans, and that 23 percent of respondents had not gone to the doctor when they needed to in the previous year because they feared being mistreated as a trans person.
What’s more, healthcare providers are not generally well trained in issues that affect trans patients. According to a press release, a 2019 nationwide survey of oncologists by the NYU School of Medicine and the Moffitt Cancer Center, for example, found that nearly 83 percent of participants said they felt comfortable treating transgender patients, but only 37 percent said they were adequately trained to do so.
How can a trans person screen for healthcare providers and facilities that will be both welcoming and capable of serving their healthcare needs? Here are six tips that can improve the chances of a successful search.
1. Ask Around
Getting direct referrals from friends, an LGBTQ+ community center (from Centerlink’s directory), or another affirming provider you already have is often an excellent first step and sometimes the only needed step to finding someone you can trust.
“If there’s not a trans-specific support group or community, you can try calling the LGBTQ+ support groups and asking if there are any medical providers or specific clinics that have experience with caring for trans-identified people,” says Timothy Cavanaugh, MD, who practices at Thundermist, a Rhode Island–based medical practice with a team of professionals dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of people who are trans.
2. Use Online Databases
Dr. Cavanaugh also suggests checking online resources like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which features a “Find a Provider Section” on its website. There are also additional directories that cater to the LGBTQ+ community more broadly, including:
3. Look for Signs of Welcome
When at a healthcare facility, the American Medical Association (AMA) recommends looking for the following:
- Brochures and educational materials about LGBTQ+ health concerns
- LGBTQ+-friendly posters
- LGBTQ+ or transgender pride flags
- Gender-neutral bathrooms
- A visibly posted nondiscrimination statement that includes gender identity. The AMA’s downloadable nondiscrimination policy can give you an idea of what one looks like.
Intake forms and other paperwork is another key spot where a doctor’s office can show or fumble inclusivity. Does it ask for your preferred name in addition to your legal name? Is there a line asking for your pronouns? Are the only sex or gender options “male” or “female” or are there more? Sometimes these forms are available online before going to an appointment, so you can use this test when choosing a provider.
You can also look for pronouns on staff members’ name tags, or stickers or signs that say “all are welcome” or similar sentiments.
4. Notice Every Staff Member’s Behavior, Not Just the Doctor
Besides the paper you fill out, does the receptionist use your correct name and pronouns? How about the nurse who sees you before the doctor comes in?
A truly welcoming provider has a fully trained staff on transgender cultural competency. Staff can ask how to make you most comfortable, like making sure you have privacy in your own room without being weighed in the hall or not having to undress and talk with the doctor in a robe when not necessary. The doctor and any other providers in the practice should also ask what names you prefer for your body parts and use the ones you say and make a note of it so you don’t need to repeat yourself each visit.
5. Extra Points for a Follow-Up Call
Taking the extra step to check in with patients and gauge their feelings post-appointment helps establish a trusting relationship with trans patients. A member of Thundermist’s trans welcoming team always calls new patients after their first visit to make sure their experience was professional and welcoming, to see if they need follow-up appointments, and to let them know about upcoming trans-focused events and resources.
6. Ask Key Questions — and Trust Your Gut
Cavanaugh says it’s important to gauge the provider’s reaction when you ask questions like, “I have some concerns around gender identity and affirming my identity. Is that something you have any experience in or that you’d be comfortable helping me manage and care for?”
“It’s a pretty straightforward question,” says Cavanaugh. “If a provider comes right back with a ‘Yep, I’m fine with that,’ or ‘I have some experience with that,’ or ‘I take care of a number of trans patients,’ that’s great.”
If the provider expresses some openness to working with a trans patient, it’s a good sign. They might say something like, “I don’t really know a lot about this yet, but I am certainly willing to work with you and do some of my own reading and research to figure out how to best take care of you.”
If the provider becomes flustered, fumbles over words, or can’t really give you good answers to your questions, find someone else, Cavanaugh says.
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