The Trauma Patient Who is Transgender or Gender-Expansive: Special Considerations for the Trauma Team-Video: Transgender

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Video Summary

In a recent TCAA webinar, Justin Millicy, a seasoned nurse and advocate for transgender care, discussed essential considerations for trauma teams when treating transgender or gender-expansive patients. As societal perceptions of gender continue to evolve, healthcare professionals must learn to address these patients with respect, avoiding bias and ensuring cultural competence in care settings.<br /><br />Millicy emphasized the importance of understanding diverse gender identities and terminologies, which often change. He highlighted tools like the Fenway Institute Glossary and WPATH guidelines as valuable resources for healthcare providers. The presentation focused on treating transgender patients with the same dignity and engagement shown to other patients and the critical role of reducing stigma through consistent, non-biased practices.<br /><br />Traumatic injuries among transgender individuals frequently stem from violence, making these patients wary of seeking care due to potential discrimination or previous negative healthcare experiences. Millicy stressed that trauma teams should prioritize lifesaving interventions while being sensitive to the unique physiological considerations posed by gender-affirming treatments and surgeries.<br /><br />Millicy further advocated for nuanced communication strategies in hospital settings, recommending that staff ask patients their preferred names and pronouns, thereby creating a supportive environment. He concluded by sharing his personal commitment to this topic, inspired by his son's experiences, underscoring the necessity for empathy and understanding in providing optimal care for transgender patients.<br /><br />The session concluded with a Q&A, addressing logistics such as blood transfusion protocols and available resources for further learning on gender-related topics.

Keywords

transgender care

trauma teams

gender-expansive patients

cultural competence

Fenway Institute Glossary

WPATH guidelines

gender-affirming treatments

communication strategies

preferred pronouns

healthcare discrimination