Improving Transgender Healthcare

Abstract

As of 2017, approximately 1 out of every 250 Americans, or about one million individuals, identify as transgender (Meerwijk & Sevelius, 2017). Despite this significant number, the healthcare system has been slow to adapt. Studies, such as the one conducted by Meerwijk and Sevelius (2017) determined that approximately 28% of transgender individuals will delay medical care due to fear of discrimination. This indicates the importance of incorporating a patient’s gender identity into the provided healthcare. When a transgender individual is admitted into a healthcare facility, not only are they vulnerable due to their gender and health status, but they may also encounter ignorance and intolerance from the healthcare staff. For the reasons noted, transgender individuals often avoid the healthcare setting until emergency services are needed, which is not ideal for the patient, providers, or the process of patient-centered care. To help combat this, the purpose of this Evidence Based Practice Brief is to determine how the inclusion of gender identifying questionnaires will affect transgender patients’ overall satisfaction. As nurses within the healthcare setting, it will be part of our responsibility to ensure inclusive and all-encompassing care for each and every client.