National standards of care for TGIQ health announced

SEATTLE —RAD Remedy released the groundbreaking National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health at Gender Odyssey Seattle on Friday, Aug. 25.

Based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services CLAS standards (National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care) and adapted for trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer communities, this uniquely grassroots document establishes community-driven best practices for providers to meet. RAD Remedy’s Executive Director Riley Johnson explains, “So often best practices in medicine are set by providers for providers. In this document, the communities directly impacted are advising providers what we expect and deserve when pursuing care.”

Community members can use the National Standards with their providers to initiate conversations about how the provider’s practice can improve. Providers looking to serve TGIQ patients but unsure of where to begin can also use the Standards to clarify steps they can take to make small improvements that make a big difference in the lives of TGIQ people. RAD Remedy serves as a supportive force to both, advising patients of their rights and options as well as delivering robust consulting services to providers ready to become a positive presence.

Brynn Tannehill, Trans United Fund Board Member: “This is a resource that is desperately needed by the medical community to provide holistically competent care,” said Brynn Tannehill, Trans United Fund board member. “While there is an abundance of peer reviewed information on what sort of treatments transgender people receive, there is precious little on HOW they should be treated by medical professionals.”

This is not the first initiative by RAD Remedy to address the significant health disparities and care barriers faced by these communities. In June 2015, RAD Remedy launched the Referral Aggregator Database, a review and referral database that, for the first time, empowered TGIQ people to share reviews and experiences, providing comprehensive information to the community and feedback for providers. The database now has over 4,000 providers nationwide and sees an average of 6,000 unique visitors per month.

The National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health may be viewed at tiny.cc/nationalstandards. Print copies may be obtained by contacting RAD Remedy at info@radremedy.org.

RAD Remedy’s mission is to connect trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer folks to accurate, safe, respectful, and comprehensive care in order to improve individual and community health. As a collectively-operated and community-driven nonprofit, RAD Remedy eagerly welcomes the feedback and participation of interested folks across the country. For more information, please check out http://www.radremedy.org.

via press release