Approach to the provision of transgender health care in a veteran population

Transgender patients often experience health disparities, including higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity, tobacco and substance use disorders, higher suicide risk, and reduced access and initiation of medical and mental health services. In 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system released a directive outlining the provision of transgender health care services. Since 2011, the number of transgender veterans seeking services has increased. To address these health care disparities and ensure competent comprehensive medical and mental health care for this population, an interprofessional team collaborated to develop the first formalized Transgender Healthcare Clinic at the VA Loma Linda Medical Center. The team consisted of an endocrinologist, primary care provider, clinical pharmacist, psychologist, and social worker. Each member of the team plays a key role in the management of mental and medical health care for transgender veterans. After implementation of the Transgender Healthcare Clinic and its respective model for appointments, access to gender transition–related health care has improved and expanded. Although the role of the clinical pharmacist is well established in this clinic, the addition of a psychiatric pharmacist to the transgender health care team could improve patient care through the integration of an expert understanding of behavioral and pharmacologic aspects facing transgender individuals. The psychiatric pharmacist is trained with the unique skill set required to address these concerns and facilitate the optimal management of co-occurring mental illnesses commonly seen in this patient population. Further research focusing on the integration of psychiatric pharmacists into transgender health care teams is needed.