Comprehensive Care of the Transgender Patient: a Multidisciplinary Approach-View Presentation

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The Cleveland Clinic has developed an advanced multidisciplinary team for providing comprehensive care to transgender individuals, spearheaded by experts like Dr. Murat Altunay, Dr. Cecilia Ferrando, Dr. Jason Lambrisi, and Dr. Henry Eng. Their approach incorporates mental health, internal medicine, pediatrics, and surgical care, focusing on the unique needs of transgender patients.<br /><br />Dr. Altunay highlights the pervasive health disparities faced by the LGBT population, rooted in historical discrimination. Many healthcare providers previously expressed discomfort with LGBT patients, but this tide is shifting with improved training and education. Addressing mental health is crucial, as many from this community suffer from mood and anxiety disorders exacerbated by societal discrimination.<br /><br />The Cleveland Clinic team addresses these issues by providing gender-affirming procedures and hormone treatments, guided by global standards like those from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). They aim to mitigate challenges stemming from a lack of research and targeted outreach programs.<br /><br />Dr. Ferrando discusses the surgical options available to transmasculine and transfeminine individuals, stressing the necessity of mental health evaluations for assessing surgical readiness. Surgeons work collaboratively with community and mental healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive patient care.<br /><br />For pediatric patients, providing supportive environments and understanding individual gender journeys are key. Challenges like accessing care due to the legal complexities of parental consent, especially when consent is divided amongst guardians, are part of the ongoing dialogue.<br /><br />With ongoing societal changes and political debates impacting transgender healthcare, the Clinic’s strategy is responsive and patient-centric, emphasizing education, mental health stability, and informed, consensual medical interventions as essential components of care.

Keywords

Cleveland Clinic

transgender care

multidisciplinary team

Dr. Murat Altunay

health disparities

LGBT health

mental health

gender-affirming procedures

WPATH standards

surgical readiness

pediatric transgender care

parental consent

patient-centric strategy