It Is Not Rocket Science

Healthcare for trans people is nothing special but trying to find a doctor who wants to treat a trans patient is hard.

Transgender Healthcare: Why Finding an Adequate Doctor Is Still a Hurdle
NBC News
By Parminder Deo
June 18, 2016

After James Parker Sheffield medically transitioned six years ago — requiring hormone replacement therapy and chest reconstructive surgery — he faced major challenges in getting adequate healthcare.

The Georgia native not only had to travel more than 40 miles to see a doctor trained in transgender health, he had to seek that care at a clinic for women. Sheffield, who was born a female, says it's not unusual for transgender patients to encounter a series of such hurdles in the search for medical care.

"If we're fortunate enough to afford care, we then have to find a physician that is welcoming and understanding of our status as trans," said Sheffield, 36. "In rural areas, or even some suburban areas, those physicians don't exist. This often means traveling extreme distances to see a doctor, which then creates the obstacle of transportation and time resources."

There are only a handful of endocrinologist and endocrine APRN who accept trans patients in Connecticut but there is nothing special in treating trans patients, once you know what the normal dosage is for trans clients you just monitor us just like any other patient.

What prevents us from proper healthcare is the healthcare provider bias.

"The only way to combat stigma in healthcare is to train young physicians properly," said Dr. Dana Beyer, who teaches at Georgetown and is the executive director for Gender Rights Maryland. "Now that there is growing insurance coverage, there is a developing phenomenon of gender clinics across the United States. Young physicians notice that, read about trans people in the news, recognize there is a need, and are willing to train."

Let’s hope that students will get more than a few hours of training on how to make your office LGBT friendly, let’s hope that they get trained on our medical needs.