This mini-documentary examines the pressing need for LGBTQ healthcare strategy within the primary care setting. It explores the steps the Hamilton Family Health Team is taking to ensure its physicians and providers are well-educated and leading the charge. Produced for launch at the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario conference in October 2018.
Gender Affirming Care
A mini-documentary on the pressing need for LGBTQ healthcare strategy in primary care, and the steps the Hamilton Family Health Team is taking to educate its physicians and lead the charge. Produced for launch at the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario conference in 2018.
Client
Hamilton Family Health Team
Industry
Healthcare
Type
Documentary
Platform
Web & Social Media
Audience
Hamilton Family Health Team — LGBTQ Care Transcript
Becoming a dad has always been something that I wanted to be. I remember driving home from university with my mum and I passed out sleeping and I woke up to her crying. I said to her, "Why are you crying?" She's like, "You're gay. You're never going to have a child." I was with my surrogate along the whole way from doctor's appointments to ultrasounds.
I held her right when she was born and haven't let go ever since. Yeah. I've actually been planning to have a child to have Sophie for five years now. I looked at the health care system in Hamilton and what I needed to do to find an amazing doctor, which I'm glad I did. I met Daniel about five years ago when he first joined my practice.
We talked about the fact that he'd like to start a family. What were his options and some advice about what were these special things that he needed to think of as a gay man that might make that journey be a little bit more complicated for him. Dr. Davis's team is very progressive. I find that when I go to Megan, she treats me like an equal.
And that was one of the reasons that I chose Dr. Davis was because of how open she is with the community, how connected she is with the community. It's really important for us to create a space for our patients where they feel included, not judged, supported for all the patients that come, including our LGBTQ patients. So we had all of our staff and all of the health care providers, all the physicians go to training that the family health team offered through Rainbow Health Ontario.
So we all went off site and we had that afternoon of training and talked about things like pronouns, how important language is to make our space feel safe. And then once we felt that we had that, then we put signs up and we were honest and saying, this is a safe space for you. You'll be supported. You won't be judged. So that was our journey to make sure that not just the providers, but all the staff were supportive.
The HFIT is tasked with trying to provide inclusive care for the entire population that we serve. Our committee started in 2012. We've been trying to work on an educational approach to provide culturally appropriate care for the LGBT population in Hamilton. This is not just about sexuality. It's also about anxiety and depression.
Transitioning in the workplace is another key issue. I think it's an important role that Hamilton family health team is trying to fulfill. The feedback has been incredibly positive and there's been some people have said, I didn't know, I didn't know this. How can I improve? So I view that as a big positive. We are actually making an impact.
At least if people don't know, they now have a resource. And I think what it boils down to is feeling that you can be your authentic self with your primary care provider. It's important for the LGBTQ community to have this kind of health care because it really opens up opportunities and allows people to come out and feel that they can be themselves in this community.
We need to continue to engage our practitioners across the family health team. Our population needs care and our population needs to have the same health outcomes that everybody else expects from society.
About this project
I have worked with Double Barrel on several projects with various organizations I am involved with. I can’t say enough about what a great team they are and the innovative work they do. They really get to know you and your project to better understand the vision for whatever it is you are trying to convey through video. They are also always using new visual techniques that make their work stand out. I highly recommend them and will continue to use them for our communication projects in the future.
Sabrena Dorris
Communications Director
Hamilton Family Health Team — LGBTQ Care Transcript
Becoming a dad has always been something that I wanted to be. I remember driving home from university with my mum and I passed out sleeping and I woke up to her crying. I said to her, "Why are you crying?" She's like, "You're gay. You're never going to have a child." I was with my surrogate along the whole way from doctor's appointments to ultrasounds.
I held her right when she was born and haven't let go ever since. Yeah. I've actually been planning to have a child to have Sophie for five years now. I looked at the health care system in Hamilton and what I needed to do to find an amazing doctor, which I'm glad I did. I met Daniel about five years ago when he first joined my practice.
We talked about the fact that he'd like to start a family. What were his options and some advice about what were these special things that he needed to think of as a gay man that might make that journey be a little bit more complicated for him. Dr. Davis's team is very progressive. I find that when I go to Megan, she treats me like an equal.
And that was one of the reasons that I chose Dr. Davis was because of how open she is with the community, how connected she is with the community. It's really important for us to create a space for our patients where they feel included, not judged, supported for all the patients that come, including our LGBTQ patients. So we had all of our staff and all of the health care providers, all the physicians go to training that the family health team offered through Rainbow Health Ontario.
So we all went off site and we had that afternoon of training and talked about things like pronouns, how important language is to make our space feel safe. And then once we felt that we had that, then we put signs up and we were honest and saying, this is a safe space for you. You'll be supported. You won't be judged. So that was our journey to make sure that not just the providers, but all the staff were supportive.
The HFIT is tasked with trying to provide inclusive care for the entire population that we serve. Our committee started in 2012. We've been trying to work on an educational approach to provide culturally appropriate care for the LGBT population in Hamilton. This is not just about sexuality. It's also about anxiety and depression.
Transitioning in the workplace is another key issue. I think it's an important role that Hamilton family health team is trying to fulfill. The feedback has been incredibly positive and there's been some people have said, I didn't know, I didn't know this. How can I improve? So I view that as a big positive. We are actually making an impact.
At least if people don't know, they now have a resource. And I think what it boils down to is feeling that you can be your authentic self with your primary care provider. It's important for the LGBTQ community to have this kind of health care because it really opens up opportunities and allows people to come out and feel that they can be themselves in this community.
We need to continue to engage our practitioners across the family health team. Our population needs care and our population needs to have the same health outcomes that everybody else expects from society.
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