2w ago

How do I find an accepting healthcare provider?

I just moved to a new area, which is right on the border between a red state and a blue state (living on the blue side, of course), and I'm looking to set up healthcare appointments. I can search for providers through my insurance, but there's basically no information on them. I would expect that the average medical professional would be more accepting than the average person, but I would still like to increase my chances of finding an accepting provider, since there are definitely phobes around. Are there any tips I can use to help with that?

5 comments

This…. Might help.
https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/erins-informed-consent-hrt-map-how
At least it helped me a couple years ago…
- I'm not looking for HRT just yet, but that map would definitely be good to keep in mind for when I do.
  Currently I'm looking to get a primary care physician, someone to prescribe me ADHD meds (probably more of a specialist), a dentist, and a therapist. If I wanted to, I could go stealthy with all of them except the therapist, but I would prefer to develop relationships with providers who would continue to be supportive once they do know, since I couldn't hide it forever.
  
  Fwiw, my PCP isn't transphobic but knows very little about HRT, which I have another provider for, and I have to be somewhat decisive about my own care and fill in the gaps when there are uncertainties or disagreements.
I've tried the following method in a big city and a smaller city, and it's worked both times, just with one outcome being less direct than the other. I live in a purple state.
Basically, I just called my local clinic and said, "I'm looking for a primary care physician with experience in trans healthcare." Simple as that. Back at the smaller city, there wasn't one, so I was given a primary with a referral to an endochronologist. They had access to each others' medical records, so the primary was kept in the loop. After moving to a larger city, I was paired with a doctor with trans healthcare experience.
Medical gatekeeping might exist. If you're able to and your insurance allows, don't be afraid to travel to another city to get the care you need. Also, if it gives you peace of mind, you could go to a therapist for at least six months and get a referral from them. That's what I did, although I didn't end up needing it to get my meds. Did wonders for my mental health, though.
I started by using this website since it lets you filter for LGBTQ+ affirming professionals.
I found one doctor not too far from me, about 30 minutes. They moved though, and referred me to another who I now love. The new doctor wasn't tagged as affirming on that site, so I know it isn't perfect, but it's a start.
I'm guessing a lot of doctors may just not have thought to list themselves that way, even if they are.