Care for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals
Welcome to Penn State Health, a health system committed to celebrating, supporting and enhancing the lives of our LGBTQIA+ community members. We understand that health care is a journey and every journey is unique. We are dedicated to providing respectful, inclusive and affirming care that meets your individual needs.
Penn State Health is more than a health care provider; we are a community, a family. When you step through our doors, you are not just a patient, you are a cherished member of our vibrant, diverse family. Our commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community is not only about providing health care; it's about nurturing an environment of acceptance, understanding and mutual respect. At Penn State Health, you are seen, you are heard and you are valued.
Gender-Affirming Health Care - Adults
Penn State Health Internal Medicine provides care for transgender and gender-diverse adults in a supportive and safe environment. Primary care clinicians and other health care providers at Penn State Health are trained in gender-affirming care, and they support the comprehensive health needs of transgender and gender-diverse adult patients throughout central Pennsylvania and the surrounding mid-Atlantic region.
Our services include:
- Primary care
- Hysterectomy and/or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
- Chest surgeries
- Vocal care
- Sexual health care
- Reproductive and family building care
- Hormone therapy and other gender-focused consultative care
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 800-243-1455 or visit https://www.pennstatehealth.org/doctors.
Gender Health Program - Pediatrics
The Gender Health Clinic at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital provides gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults throughout Pennsylvania. The clinic’s collaborative team of providers are specially trained to meet the complex social, emotional and physical health care needs of their patients within a supportive and safe environment.
Penn State Health does not perform gender-affirming surgery on minors.
Your Voice, Our Action: The Sexual and Gender Minority Advisory Council
At Penn State Health, our commitment to improving health care services extends to our governance. The Sexual and Gender Minority Advisory Council works to advance health care outcomes for our patients, using feedback from our community to inform policy changes, education initiatives and service improvements.
Our People, Our Pride: The LGBTQ+ Business Employee Resource Group
We understand that the strength of our health care system lies in the diversity of our staff. Our LGBTQ+ Business Employee Resource Group fosters an inclusive workplace where every voice is heard, promoting policies and practices that make Penn State Health a welcoming environment for our LGBTQ+ employees.
We Ask About Pronouns Because We Care
Sometimes people make assumptions about a person’s gender based on their appearance. These assumptions can send a potentially harmful message that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate gender. Using a person’s preferred name and correct pronouns is important to ensure every person feels heard, valued and respected.
Asking for your preferred name and pronouns helps us understand who you are and ensures you are addressed in a way that makes you feel comfortable and respected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has access to view a patient’s preferred name vs. legal name?
Anyone who accesses a patient’s electronic medical record will see their legal name, with the preferred name in parentheses.
What name will Penn State Health use in mailed appointment reminders, bills, etc.?
Penn State Health will use the legal name on file in all mailed correspondence. A preferred name is meant to indicate how to address a patient when speaking to them directly.
What name will be listed in the patient portal?
A patient’s preferred name can be listed in the patient portal in the “Update Account” setting.
What name will be listed on patient materials, such as stickers, armbands, etc.?
Armbands will include a patient’s legal name, with their preferred name and pronouns in parentheses. However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires a patient’s legal name for medications and lab orders.