National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health

By: Brandon M. Macsata, CEO, ADAP Advocacy Association

Earlier this year, several important resources were made available by the ADAP Advocacy Association to promote better access to care for transgender men & women living with HIV/AIDS. One of the collaborative partners in that effort was RAD Remedy, which connects trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer folks to accurate, safe, respectful, and comprehensive care in order to improve individual and community health. Now, RAD Remedy has published a "uniquely grassroots" document to establish clear guidelines for providers serving these underserved communities.

The National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health includes community-driven best practices for providers to meet and can be used by patients and providers alike to advocate for improvements in forms, systems, and practices. Branded as a "community-driven understanding of competent care for trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer individuals," it lays down the groundwork to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS).

National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health

In these groundbreaking standards, RAD Remedy puts the CLAS standards in action by outlining key components of culturally competent care and treatment for trans, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer individuals. They encompass regulatory actions, paperwork, office practices, human resources, marketing, and community engagement.[1]

Upon releasing the new national standards, Riley Johnson, RAD Remedy's executive director, summarized: "This uniquely grassroots document is an open opportunity for providers and hospital systems nationwide to become a positive presence in the lives of TGIQ folks. We look forward to honing forms, systems, and practices which directly impact the health and welfare of our communities."

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 4000 providers nationwide and sees an average of 6000 unique visitors per month.

Download the National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health.

For more information, please visit RAD Remedy at RADremedy.org or email at info@radremedy.org.

Related resources:

• [Blog] Linkages to Care - Transgender Healthcare: Removing Barriers to Healthy Cultural Expectations
• [Infographic] TRANSGENDER HEALTH: Improving Access to Care Among Transgender Men & Women Living with HIV/AIDS under the AIDS Drug Assistance Program
• [Issue Paper] TRANSGENDER HEALTH: Improving Access to Care Among Transgender Men & Women Living with HIV/AIDS under the AIDS Drug Assistance Program: Model Policy for Ryan White/ADAPs Serving Transgender Clients 
• 10 Tips for Working with TGIQ* Patients
• [Webinar] Transgender Healthcare: Removing Barriers to Healthy Cultural Expectations

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[1] Colin, E., Hennessy, R,, Johnson, R., Lowden, R., and Sloane, S; (2017) National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health; RAD Remedy. Retrieved from http://static.radremedy.org/guides/RAD-Remedy-2017-Standards-of-Care-Color.pdf.

[2] Johnson, R.; (2017, August 28) National Standards of Care for TGIQ Health to Help Providers Improve Services; RAD Remedy.