healthcare

Access to Health Care for Transgender Patients:An Overview: 

Access to Health Care for Transgender Patients: An Overview PAETC Training for Trainers April 14-16, 2003 Samuel Lurie www.tgtrain.org

Training Study Findings: 

Training Study Findings 2001-2002 Needs Assessment of Health Care Providers showed: Face-to-face key informant interviews with providers around New England, funded with support of New England AIDS Education and Training Center Experience with a range of transgendered expressions but lack of information on populations, terminology, differences Desire to treat TG patients respectfully but admitted discomfort and lack of tools for specific interviewing/assessments. Concern and frustration with lack of information, studies and research Concern and frustration with lack of treatment guidelines, referral contacts and ways to advocate for transgender clients. Time constraints create an overarching barrier in building trusting relationships with clients, and trusting relationships are integral to quality care

Four Steps to Providing Care: 

Four Steps to Providing Care Understand range of gender expressions and differences in desire for and access to surgical or hormonal interventions. Recognize distinctions between gender identity and sexual orientation and understand differences (and similarities) in health care delivery needs. Understand access to care is affected by negative experiences with providers and role providers can play in improving quality of life for trans people. Making agencies more trans-friendly

Recognize Range of Expressions and Desires: 

Recognize Range of Expressions and Desires Many words to identify gender-variance, including: MTF, FTM, transman, transwoman, bi-gendered, gender-blender, phallic woman, passing man, she-male, femme queen, non-op, boi, two-spirit, new man, new woman, etc. Terms: Transgender vs. Transexual FTM, Transman MTF, Transwoman Pre-op, post-op, non-op Intersex Transition, SOFFA

Range of Expressions, con’t: 

Range of Expressions, con’t Identities can and do change, based on context, culture, geography, and individual’s place on their life journey Hormones and surgical interventions may be desired in an order or degree other than what protocols dictate. Watch for pathologizing/medicalizing situation (even words like 'pre-op' and 'post-op' assume 'op' as final outcome. Also, emphasis is on genitals, not person.)

Gender identity and sexual orientation are different things : 

Gender identity and sexual orientation are different things Every individual has a biological sex, a gender identity and a sexual orientation. All can be considered fluid. But being transgendered does not mean you’re gay and being gay does not mean you’re transgendered. There is overlap, in part because gender variance is often seen in gay context. Masculine females and feminine males are assumed to be gay; 'anti-gay' discrimination and violence often targets gender expression, not sexuality

Traditional Binary Gender Model: 

Traditional Binary Gender Model Biological Sex: Male Female Hormones, genitalia secondary sex characteristics Gender Expression Masculine Feminine Dress, posture, roles, identity Sexual Orientation Attracted Attracted to Women to Men

Revolutionary Gender Model: 

Revolutionary Gender Model Biological Sex: Male Intersexed Female Hormones, genitalia secondary sex characteristics Gender Expression Masculine Androgynous Feminine Dress, posture, roles, identity Sexual Orientation Attracted to: women men both neither other

Revolutionary Gender ModelMany configurations are possible: 

Revolutionary Gender Model Many configurations are possible Biological Sex: Male Intersexed Female Hormones, genitalia secondary sex characteristics Gender Expression Masculine Androgynous Feminine Dress, posture, roles, identity Sexual Orientation Attracted to: women men both neither other

Revolutionary Gender ModelMany configurations are possible: 

Revolutionary Gender Model Many configurations are possible Biological Sex: Male Intersexed Female Hormones, genitalia secondary sex characteristics Gender Identity Man Bi-gendered Woman 'I am a…': Gender Expression Masculine Androgynous Feminine Dress, posture, roles, identity Sexual Orientation Attracted to: women men both other

Reminders: 

Reminders Homophobia is different than Transphobia Trans people are often outcast in G/L context. Pfc. Barry Winchell

Slide12: 

Calpernia Adams Photos from her website at www.calpernia.com

Risks and Need: 

Risks and Need Not many studies, but all show painfully high rates of HIV infection. From 22% in recent LA Study to 68% in 1993 study in Atlanta. 35% in SF MTFs; 63% African-American MTFs (Clements-Nolle, Am. Journal of Public Health, June 2001) Often people don’t know they are infected, or have no access to care. In SF study, 50% of those who knew status, not receiving care. CDC places TG people in MSM category for funding and prevention programs.

Barriers to Care and Treatment: 

Barriers to Care and Treatment Providers lack basic knowledge and have discomfort Lack of research and information Topic still derided by other professionals Not enough people doing the work Extensive negative experiences with health care Medicalization and Pathologizing of Experience- judgmental, patronizing and humiliating treatment In-take forms, office environment, alienating process Insurance issues and long waiting lists Workers and agencies come from a deficit perspective

Trans Losses: 

Trans Losses Tyra Hunter Photo by Mariette Pathy Allen Robert Eads Billy Tipton Photos from Remembering Our Dead, www.gender.org/remember And Transsexual, Transgender and Intersexed History, www.transhistory.org Alexander John Goodrum

Agency-related issues to provide services: 

Agency-related issues to provide services Don’t just add 'T' without doing work to understand what it means Train all staff--receptionists, security guards, director Make in-take forms trans friendly, i.e. include 'chosen name' not just legal name; include more than M/F Respect confidentiality, choices and fluidity Honor presenting gender and self-diagnosis Challenge transphobia—in staff and community Have Unisex bathrooms!

Dr. Lori Kohler’s summary: 

Dr. Lori Kohler’s summary All trans people are medically underserved Hormone treatment is not optional Providers who treat HIV disease have unique opportunity to improve medical care for trans people While there are many unanswered questions about long-term effects, benefits outweigh the risks for most patients.

Joy: 

Joy 'Working with someone going through a gender transition is a joyous part of medicine. It’s very similar to feelings obstetricians have about facilitating birth.' -Edward Cheslow, MD

Resources: 

Resources Protocols for Hormonal Reassignment of Gender from the Tom Waddell Health Center, 2001, http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite.jsp?doc=2098.3d5a. Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (February 20, 2001). Standards of Care for Gender Identity Disorders, Sixth Version. http://www.hbigda.org/socv6.html Oriel, K. A. (2000). Medical care of transsexual patients. Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association 4(4): 185-193 Post, P, (2002), Crossing to Safety: Transgender Health and Homelessness, Healing Hands: A publication of the Health Care for the Homeless Clinician’s Network, 6 (4), June 2002. http://www.nhchc.org/Network/HealingHands/2002/June2002HealingHands.pdf Bockting, W and Kirk S, editors, Transgender and HIV: Risks, prevention and care. Bringhamton, NY: The Haworth Press (2001) Originally published as a special issue of International Journal of Trangenderism 3.1+2. Available online at http://www.symposion/ijt

Resources continued: 

Resources continued Clements-Nolle, K., Marx, R., Guzman, R., andamp; Katz, M. (2001, June). 'HIV prevalence, risk behaviors, health care use, and mental health status of transgender persons: implications for public health intervention.' American Journal of Public Health, 91(6), 915-921. Keatley, J and Clements-Nolle, K. Factsheet: What are the Prevention Needs of Male-to-Female Transgender Persons? University of California, San Francisco, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, (2001) (English and Spanish versions) www.caps.ucsf.edu Gender Identity 101: A Transgender Primer by Alexander John Goodrum, a publication of TGNet Arizona, www.tgnetarizona.org Intersexed Society of North America; www.isna.org, Advocacy and educational organization founded and led by intersexed people. For a copy of the Needs Assessment 'Identifying Training Needs of Health Care Providers Related to Treatment and Care of Transgendered Patients:A Qualitative Needs Assessment' contact the author, Samuel Lurie, at slurie@gmavt.net