The National Center for Innovation in HIV Care
Transgender women are at elevated risk of becoming infected with HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention (PrEP) is effective in reducing the risk of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM), heterosexual men and women, and people who inject drugs (PWID). While transgender women have been included in some clinical trials of PrEP, no study has shown PrEP to be effective in reducing transgender women’s HIV risk.
Front-line staff play a key role in creating a health care environment that responds to the needs of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. Everyone, no matter their gender identity or expression, appreciates friendly and courteous service. In addition, TGD people have unique needs when interacting with the health care system. Many TGD people experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives, including when seeking health care.
Issues and concerns from TGD patients often arise at the front desk and in waiting areas because those are the first points of contact for most patients. These issues, however, are almost always unintentional and can be prevented by training all staff in some basic principles and strategies.
This document, updated in Fall 2016, was developed as a starting point to help train front-line health care employees to provide affirming services to TGD patients (and all patients) at their organization. Part 1 of this document provides background information on TGD people and their health needs. Part 2 provides tips and strategies to improve communication and create a more affirming environment.
This document offers a brief but comprehensive overview of the major issues relevant to the health and health care of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The authors discuss LGBT demographics, terminology, and concepts; they also review LGBT health disparities across the life span. Clinicians and health care organizations will learn steps they can take to improve access to patient-centered care for their LGBT patients, including collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity, creating a welcoming environment and providing interventions that respond to LGBT disparities.
American College of Physicians (ACP), 2015. Editors: Harvey Makadon, MD, Jennifer Potter, MD, Kenneth Mayer, MD and Hilary Goldhammer, MS of the Fenway Institute, Fenway Health
This new 2nd edition of The Fenway Guide to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health reflects clinical and social changes since the publication of the first edition.
Written by leading experts in the field of LGBT health in conjunction with The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health, this edition continues to present the important issues facing patients and practitioners, including:
For more information and to order copies: ACP Online
