Where are the Gay Friendly Doctors?

Where are the Gay Friendly Doctors?

Finding a doctor you can rely on is tough for anyone: between long waits to schedule appointments, limited face time once you’re in the examination room, or poor bedside manner, it can be difficult to develop the trust you need when it comes to healthcare. For members of the LGBT community, there’s even more to consider.

When it comes to staying healthy, choosing a doctor who respects and understands your circumstances and background is incredibly important: knowing you’re seeing a gay friendly doctor might make you more likely to discuss medical issues and concerns without fear of being judged or made to feel ashamed.

GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality

When you’re looking for a lesbian and gay friendly doctor, the organization GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association) is an excellent place to begin your search. Founded in 1981, the organization is the oldest and largest association of LGBT healthcare professionals in the world, and has many resources for doctors and patients:

• Directory – For patients, GLMA maintains a provider directory where you can find primary care physicians, specialists, and therapists. GLMA only lists providers who have affirmed their commitment to LGBT health, noting providers who are GLMA members.
• Resources – Along with its provider directory, GLMA also provides further information on the most important health issues affecting the LGBT community, along with transgender health resources.
• Providers – For healthcare providers, GLMA has a number of resources to aid with treating LGBT patients, including a four-part webinar on cultural competence to better prepare doctors and providers to care for LGBT patients.

Many of GLMA’s resources, including the provider listings and webinar, are free to use, and are a great starting point for finding a trusted, gay friendly doctor in your area, especially if you’re looking for a particular specialty based on your health needs.

Finding Gay Friendly Doctors Through Your Insurance Provider

Increasingly, insurance companies and HMOs are beginning to realize that LGBT patients are seeking providers that take their sexual orientation and gender identity into consideration. In some cases, insurance companies have started to note gay friendly doctors in their coverage networks within their provider listings, but some companies are still behind the curve. Patients seeking gay friendly doctors may still be able to find this information by calling their insurance provider directly: while this information may not come up in an online search, many of these companies do maintain a listing of transgender, lesbian, and gay friendly doctors. Alternately, you can use your insurance company’s provider search in tandem with the GLMA’s search feature to find gay friendly doctors in your area.

If your insurance company doesn’t maintain a list of gay friendly doctors, a phone call can also be an excellent opportunity to suggest this improvement. The sad fact is that many insurers still don’t realize how important finding LGBT friendly healthcare providers is to patients, but requesting a listing is an great way to make them aware of your concerns and needs.

Word-of-Mouth Referrals for Gay Friendly Doctors

For many LGBT patients, the best way to find gay friendly doctors is through word-of-mouth referrals. Unlike online listings of healthcare providers, getting information from people in your community can help give you a more realistic sense of the quality of care you can expect to receive from local gay friendly doctors.

• Ask Someone You Know: Friends, family members, and even coworkers can be great sources of information when it comes to finding gay friendly doctors: ask people you know, especially if they’re LGBT, which doctors they know and trust.
• Recommendations from Local LGBT Organizations: In some areas, local LGBT groups and Pride organizations maintain listings of LGBT friendly healthcare providers. Call your local organization and ask if they can provide you with information on local gay friendly doctors.
• Call the Office: If all else fails, call the doctor’s office directly to ask about their services for LGBT patients. You can get a lot of information by asking directly, and the way the office handles your call will tell you a lot about how you’ll be treated as a patient.

One of the main issues with getting a word-of-mouth referral is that if you’re new to an area, you may not know many people you trust enough to ask about LGBT healthcare. This is where local LGBT organizations can be a huge help, both in finding listings of providers and getting to know your local LGBT community.

There Are More Gay Friendly Doctors Than You Think

If you’re frustrated while seeking out LGBT friendly medical care, don’t give up too quickly: more and more gay friendly doctors and healthcare providers are joining the ranks of medical professionals every day, with medical schools increasing their focus on providing LGBT-centric healthcare at every stage of life. With these resources, we hope that LGBT patients will be able to find the trusted care they need, without fear of discrimination or harassment.

This article was featured in  http://smartgaylife.com