Our Commitment
We believe that health care is a human right.
Health care should be inclusive, safe and empowering. But as many LGBTQIA+ patients know, that’s not everyone’s experience.
GHC-SCW knows the power of providers who understand you and support you in your care. Not having that can have long-lasting effects on your physical and mental health and wellness. We are committed to providing you care that is centered on you. To us, patient-centered care means you can feel safe to show up as your whole self in our clinics.
Finding an LGBTQIA+-Friendly Primary Care Provider
Choosing the right primary care provider who understands you, affirms you and walks alongside you is important. Your primary care provider is your guide through the health world. They’ll help you navigate tests, labs, specialty care and more. It’s a big responsibility that we take seriously.
GHC-SCW Member Services has a list of primary care providers who have self-identified that they have the education, training, experience and preparedness to provide culturally sensitive primary care.
And if you don’t feel comfortable and supported or compatible with your primary care provider, you can always switch at any time by calling Member Services.
Contact Member Services
Call (608) 828-4853 or (800) 605-4327, and request Member Services.
Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
GHC Experience Guarantee
We want to hear about your experiences seeking and receiving primary care with us, positive or negative. We want your experience at GHC-SCW clinics to exceed your expectations every time and if it doesn’t, tell us about it. At your request, we’ll even refund the out-of-pocket costs associated with your visit.
Behavioral Health at GHC-SCW
We believe in treating all people with dignity and respect. This belief is at the heart of the treatment provided by GHC-SCW behavioral health providers. Here are a few things you should know about our team:
- Our behavioral health team provides a gender affirming, welcoming space for our patients.
- We regularly attend professional seminars. This helps us stay current in our knowledge of gender affirming behavioral health care and cultural humility.
- All of our providers are supported by a behavioral health committee focused on the needs and best practices for this work. We also provide comprehensive team training with all care providers.
Many of our GHC-SCW members decide to pursue affirming medical care which allows them to be in alignment with their identity. GHC-SCW behavioral health recognizes that many persons are not pursuing transition, but rather need space to allow their authentic self to exist as part of basic health care.
Frequently Asked Questions About LGBTQIA+ Primary Care
Switching your Primary Care Provider is easy! All you need to do is call Member Services at (608) 828-4853. Then you’ll want to set up an appointment to meet and establish your care with your new provider.
Yes! If you have a legal document with a sex of X, and you would like to update your sex in your GHC-SCW record, please fill out the Legal Sex Designation Change form.
Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) is a prescription medicine that can help reduce your risk for getting HIV-1 through sex when taken every day combined with safe sex practices. PrEP is a safe and effective medication that can be use as a preventive measure for certain individuals who may engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, polyamorous, or in a relationship with someone who is living with HIV-1.
Establishing a trusted, open relationship with your provider is going to make a significant difference in your health. Your primary care provider should get to know you, your medical history and your needs. This includes your sexual orientation and gender identity because it will allow them to give you the best, most holistic care.
If you don’t feel comfortable coming out to your providers, consider switching. GHC-SCW Member Services has a list of primary care providers who have self-identified as having the education, training, experience and preparedness to provide culturally sensitive primary care.
At GHC-SCW, you have the right to:
- Individualized and family-oriented care without discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
- Recognition of your family structures, regardless of legal recognition.
- Choose your name-in-use, legal sex (including the option for legal sex of X), your gender identity and pronouns within your medical record.
- Affirming and holistic primary care. You will receive the same comprehensive screenings and care as your peers without assumptions or only treatment for conditions over-associated with the community.
Click to read through the rest of your rights and responsibilities as a GHC-SCW member.
Real GHC-SCW Member Feedback
“I recently switched my PCP, and she is fantastic. She is smart and knowledgeable, and I trust her medical opinion. She took the time to establish a trusting relationship with me, and I deeply appreciate that. She does a phenomenal job of creating a safe and empowering environment; I don’t feel stupid or experience any shame with the sensitive questions I have. She normalizes experiences that can feel overwhelming, and she does it with skill and grace. As a queer person, I am always nervous about how the medical profession is going to respond to me and/or if my care will be jeopardized, harmful, or shame-inducing because of my queerness.”
We have a long history of LGBTQIA+ support at GHC-SCW:
2014 | GHC-SCW began reviews of the gender affirming care policies in our insurance benefits. Since 2014, the policy has been reviewed 23 times. We look at updates in medicine, science, legal and public policy. |
2016 | GHC-SCW PCPs partnered with Practice Management to increase gender affirming services in Primary Care, eventually expanded to LGBTQ+ Health, Behavioral Health, and TGD Clinical Interest Committee. |
2017 | A Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity collection form was implemented, along with universal staff trainings on pronouns. |
2018 | We raised the Progress Pride Flag during Pride month for the first time in GHC-SCW history. We also participated in the Outreach Pride parade (now a festival). And we hosted our first on-site clinic for TransLawWI. |
2019 | We developed this website landing page with information specific to our LGBTQIA+ members. |
2020 | Our GHC-SCW clinic restrooms were updated with gender-affirming signage and a Gender Inclusive Restroom Use policy was created. We created “All-Gender” bathroom spaces at every GHC-SCW location. |
2021 | We partnered with UW researchers to assess readiness for change in providing more inclusive care for LGBTQ+ patients and are actively implementing change within areas of opportunity and education across our organization. |
2022 | We gave pronoun and inclusive language guides to all GHC-SCW staff, launched the legal sex of X form for members to change their legal sex, and created several internal LGBTQIA+ employee resource group. |
2023 | We provided pronoun and inclusive language training to managers. We updated our pregnancy patient materials to include gender-inclusive language and worked with language services optimize gender-neutral language in the Spanish version. |