Below are answers to some of your questions about transgender care here.
What steps has Dartmouth Health taken to be more welcoming to transgender and gender diverse patients?
- We provide comprehensive provider and staff education on gender-affirming care on a regular basis.
- We continue to work with Geisel Medical School at Dartmouth to provide medical students with up-to-date education on gender-affirming care.
- Single occupancy bathrooms are available to patients and employees throughout the hospital campus.
- Our Electronic Medical Records have the ability to capture information related to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI). Patients are able to indicate an affirmed/chosen name that appears next to the legal name listed in the chart. Patients are also able to list their pronouns in their medical records. Patients can self-report and update this information at any time by using the myDH patient portal or by connecting with their Dartmouth Health care team. For more information on system-wide SOGI collection, please visit our We Ask Because We Care page.
What changes should I expect when starting gender-affirming hormone therapy?
Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) causes physical changes to the body over time to help an individual feel more aligned in their gender identity.
How can I best support my child who has just come out as transgender?
Here are five easy things to start with:
- Always use the child’s asserted name and pronouns. You can learn more about pronouns in the GLSEN Pronoun Guide (PDF).
- Be your child’s advocate—call out transphobia when you see it and ask that others respect your child’s identity.
- Educate yourself about the concerns facing transgender youth and adults.
- Encourage your child to stand up for themselves when it is safe to do so.
- Assure your child that they have your unconditional love and support.
Start with the Human Rights Campaign's Transgender Children and Youth page for more information.
My insurance plan has an exclusion for transition-related care. What should I do?
There are many reasons why your plan might still have an exclusion for transition-related care in general or for a specific procedure. This does not mean that your plan will not cover your care.
Sometimes plan documents are out of date, or you can ask for an exception by showing that this care is medically necessary for you. If you get insurance through work or school, you can advocate with your employer to have the exclusion removed.
The National Center for Transgender Equality's Health Coverage Guide has more information on how to access care and remove exclusions.