FOLX offers virtual healthcare for the LGBTQ community. Below, we’ll discuss why it’s critical for our community to have virtual healthcare from LGBTQ+ specialized clinicians.
What is LGBT virtual healthcare?
LGBT virtual healthcare allows queer and trans patients to virtually connect with their clinicians about their medical needs from the comfort and privacy of their own homes.
At FOLX, we have over 50 LGBTQ+ specialized clinicians available for consultations related to preventative care, STIs/sexual health, mpox, and more. To learn more about our offering and book an appointment today, visit our Virtual Healthcare page.
Knowledgeable of LGBT health
Whether you’re transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or otherwise gender variant, LGBT virtual healthcare is inclusive of gender identity. Our clinicians know the basics of addressing people by their true, authentic names as well as pronouns.
Our clinicians have immense knowledge about transgender health, especially in prescribing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We understand how hormones impact and affect the body holistically. Virtual care opens the door to help advocate for your health beyond prescription management.
Additionally, our healthcare professionals have a cultural competency around sexual orientation, whether you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or something else! Most of our clinicians have prior experience in providing LGBT-specific health services, such as prescribing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an HIV/AIDS prevention method.
-
Not everyone has access to healthcare when a medical issue arises, which is a barrier to high-quality preventative care. Preventative care accounts for annual exams, screenings, physicals, and other general check-up appointments you go to when you are feeling healthy. Seeking medical care when you feel well helps you see into the future and take any preventative measures to protect your health and well-being.
The LGBTQ+ community faces healthcare inequality. Additionally, cultural racism, systemic racism, and individual level discrimination prevent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from receiving the healthcare they need and deserve. The Western medical industrial complex perpetuates other types of oppression, including but not limited to ableism, classism, ageism, and sexism. On top of this, LGBTQIA healthcare services have historically been based in major cities, making it inaccessible for many living in rural areas. LGBTQ patients with intersecting social identities often face barriers that prevent them from accessing crucial, life-saving medical services, even when those services intend to be preventative.
This has real-life impacts on collective and individual health. One way this shows up is that many people don’t end up seeing medical providers when they are feeling well—and often, even when they are sick. Virtual care can help bridge the gap and provide for those who fall within the margins.
Recommend other providers IRL
While telemedicine is innovative, we understand some practical limitations of virtual healthcare settings. Certain health services, like gender-affirming surgery, cannot be done virtually! That’s why our team has a referral network of over 20,000 United States medical offices, surgery providers, community resources, and more. If you have a health need that is outside of our care, we are happy to refer you to a local provider in your area.
FOLX also can write referral letters for gender-affirming surgery. If you’re interested in this service, please reach out to our Member Support team via the FOLX Help Center.
Values of health equity
Since our organization is dedicated to healthcare equality, our clinicians are dedicated to patient-centered care. We believe in LGBTQ+ healthcare on your terms.
__
FOLX Health is the first digital healthcare company designed by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. Our services include virtual primary care, gender-affirming hormone therapy including estrogen and testosterone (HRT), mental health care, sexual and reproductive health care, preventive care, and fertility consultations. FOLX memberships give you access to LGBTQIA+ expert clinicians, peer support, thousands of LGBTQIA+ resources, and more. Whether you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, gender non-conforming, or nonbinary, you can find LGBTQIA+-specialized health care that helps you meet your wellness goals. FOLX Health is health care that's queer all year. Get all the benefits of becoming a FOLX member and sign up today!
