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For Many Trans People, Telemedicine Is the Best Shot for Decent Health Care
Finding adequate health care can be a challenge for trans people. Telemedicine can help, but some trans medical needs still require an in-person visit.
For many trans people, access to health care is a fraught issue. Just finding a provider who has the cultural competence to respect trans patients’ identities and pronouns while providing basic health care can be a major struggle. Finding one who specializes in gender-affirming care — medical care that acknowledges and provides support for transgender people’s gender identities, and may include providing transition-related medical services like hormone replacement therapy and surgeries — is even more difficult.
The situation is even tougher for trans people in rural areas, where getting good health care can mean traveling for hours to the closest LGBTQ-focused health clinic — a hardship that’s much more difficult for low-income trans people who can’t afford to take a day off of work to see the doctor.
One possible solution? Telemedicine. As clinics across the country look to improve their trans-focused services, connecting with clients remotely has become increasingly appealing. At small…
