Transhealth
| Established | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Western Massachusetts |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | Trans and gender diverse healthcare |
Region served | Western-Mass, The Berkshires, New England, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, and National |
| Methods | Gender-Affirming Healthcare, Research, Advocacy, Education, Community |
CEO | Joan Erwin [1] |
| Website | https://transhealth.org |
Transhealth, Inc. is an American independent and comprehensive trans healthcare center that services trans and gender-diverse individuals and families. Transhealth was founded in Western Massachusetts in 2021 to provide clinical care, research, advocacy, and education related to gender-affirming healthcare.[2][3]
History
[edit]Needs assessment
[edit]The PATH Project (Plan and Act for Transgender Health)], a needs assessment conducted as a partnership between local gender-diverse community members and staff from The Fenway Institute, Cooley Dickinson Health Care, and Harvard Medical School,[4] was designed to inform the creation of Transhealth.
Founding
[edit]Transhealth was incorporated in Massachusetts on October 16, 2020.[5]
Transhealth opened on May 4, 2021.The healthcare center began by providing care for trans and gender-diverse people of all ages in Western Massachusetts clinical services including: primary adult care, pediatric care, gender-affirming hormonal care, and mental healthcare.[6] A range of non-clinical services were also in the vision to support the community, research, education, and advocacy.[7] These pillars of clinical care, research, education, and advocacy were advanced through local partnerships, educating students, collaboration with policy advocates, and expanding patient care.[8]
Clinical care
[edit]Transhealth is attempting to serve the needs of the estimated 20,000 trans and gender-diverse individuals across different parts of New England. Transhealth currently serves 2500 patients and thousands of additional community members. Now, Transhealth is a member of the New England Gender C.A.R.E Consortium.[9]
Advocacy
[edit]Transhealth advanced policy change by commenting on moves by the federal and state government.[10][11] Transhealth advocates for the need for increased healthcare access through telehealth and interstate licensure, and expanding reimbursement and incentives for gender-affirming care.[12][13][11] Transhealth is a member of the National LGBTQI Health Roundtable.[14][15]
Education
[edit]Transhealth is involved in educational initiatives across Western Massachusetts and nationally and provides clinical training for medical students and other allied health professionals. [16]
Research
[edit]Transhealth has assisted in the development of the Endocrine Nurses Society Position Statement on Transgender and Gender Diverse Care. Transhealth plans to continue community-based participatory research once the organization has developed an Institutional Review Board.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "Transhealth's new leader hopes to continue center's early success". 3 June 2024.
- ^ Republican, Anne-Gerard Flynn | Special to The (4 May 2021). "Transhealth Northampton opens as first 'independent, comprehensive' transgender health center". masslive. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Trans healthcare center opens in Northampton". WWLP. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "The PATH Project - Fenway Health: Health Care Is A Right, Not A Privilege". 8 April 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Business Entity Summary". corp.sec.state.ma.us. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Staff, Queer Forty (5 October 2021). "MassHealth expands care options for trans and nonbinary folk". Queer Forty. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Transgender Health - Thursday June 10". New England Public Media. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Hackett, Dennis (18 May 2021). "Transhealth Northampton promises patient centered care". Reminder Publications. Retrieved 26 May 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "1 Question, 5 Answers: How Are Providers Improving Care for LGBTQ+ Patients? - Rounds". The Paper Gown. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Republican, Anne-Gerard Flynn | Special to The (10 May 2021). "President Biden lauded for restoring transgender health care protections". masslive. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ a b "MassHealth Expands Covered Care For Transgender And Non-Binary Residents". www.wbur.org. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Refusal to treat, verbal abuse: Trans people face overwhelming health care discrimination". NBC News. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "The Pervasiveness Of Transgender Health Care Discrimination : Short Wave". NPR.org. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "180 Organizations Call for Routine LGBTQI+ Health Data Collection". CLEAR. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "National LGBT Cancer Network Ending the Invisibility: Organizations Call for Routine LGBTQI+ Data Collection". cancer-network.org. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Education". Retrieved 5 March 2025.
- ^ "Endocrine Nurses Society Position Statement on Transgender and Gender Diverse Care". Retrieved 26 May 2022.
