Creating Communications and Engagement Guidelines for Transgender Care

Members and Nonmembers:

View the SHSMD Education Recorded Webinar.
Download a PDF of the presentation and Optimizing Transgender Care Toolkit.

Does your health system promote services for transgender patients or plan to in the future? Are leaders aware of the high levels of violence, homelessness and health risks this population faces and that over 40% of transgender individuals attempt suicide? With so many legal, cultural and institutional issues affecting the safety and care access of this vulnerable population, it is crucial to understand the impact of our spoken and written language and revisit existing policies. By attending this free program, you will learn gender-affirming terms and practices, become familiar with the challenges embedded in the transgender patient experience and develop a vision for shifting your organization’s culture towards more robust inclusion. Be prepared for an immersive experience that challenges your concept of gender, boosts your empathy and invites you to ask hard questions in a safe space. No matter where your organization is in providing transgender health care, you will receive actionable insights you can apply to your professional and personal experience. 

Webinar Schedule:
The series is structured to enable participants at all stages to provide equitable care and develop a staged approach to an inclusive care model for transgender services relevant to their particular institutional and cultural environment.

Part 1: LGBTQ Terminology and the Transgender Patient Experience 

Topics include: 

• Transgender demographics and terminology
• Barriers that inform the transgender health care experience
• Proper use of gender pronouns and untangling gender identity

Part 2: Changing your Organization’s Culture

Part 2 builds on the foundational knowledge gained in the previous session by focusing on how to affect change within your organization regardless of where you are today.  Hear from presenters at various points in their implementation journey and how to begin or continue scaling change within your organizations.  

Topics include: 

• The distinct approach to care required for transgender patients
• Best practices related to patient engagement, employee training, policies, communication guidelines, clinical care and organizational culture. 

Program Goals:

Upon completion of the program, attendees will:

1. Understand gender identification and encourage proper use of LGBTQ terminology and pronouns
2. Have a foundational awareness of the challenges transgender patients face when seeking care
3. Gain access to tools and develop a plan for changing your organization’s culture 
4.  Connect with others in the profession to share ideas, progress and challenges

PLUS! Every registrant will receive a free, downloadable Optimizing Transgender Care Toolkit. Toolkit includes:

• Infographics to display in the workplace
• Communications guidelines
• Facilitator guides for various activities that can help with training new and existing employees 
• …and more!

All live webinars are recorded and available to access in case you are not able to join the live session.  A certificate of attendance will be provided to those that register and attend both webinars.