LGBTQIA+ Care & Services

Equitable, Inclusive Healthcare
To provide the highest quality care, Valley providers are committed to offering health services to patients on an equitable basis, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status and other non-medically relevant factors. Staff participate in ongoing training to understand the unique healthcare needs and concerns of individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+.

A Special Interest in LGBTQIA+ Care 
Valley’s caregivers actively demonstrate their support for the health and wellness of people in the LGBTQIA+ communities. Within their online profiles, some Valley providers indicate a special interest in serving the special needs and concerns of members of the LGBTQIA+ communities. Look for providers who prescribe:

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Gender affirming hormone therapy
• HIV treatment

Our Services Include:

• Primary care and preventive screenings for all genders
• Women’s health services
• Health care, including confidential sexual and reproductive services for adolescents
• Trans health care
• Sexual health screening and treatment
• Help to stop smoking 
• Behavioral health assessments, counseling and psychiatry
• Geriatric care
• Specialty care
• Insurance counseling and payment plans 
• Interpreter services (available 24/7)

What You Can Expect During Your Primary Care Visit

• Your provider will ask about your general wellbeing, your health concerns, relationships, sexual activities, needs for preventive care such as vaccinations, the need for help to stop smoking or treat substance use issues and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• You can ask your provider about any other medical, psychological or social issues that concern you.
• You can designate a health care proxy, including a same-sex partner.
• Your services will be delivered with complete confidentiality.
• If you prefer a gender neutral restroom and one is not available, you are free to use the one that is most comfortable for you.

Respecting Visitation and Healthcare Decision-making Rights
Valley caregivers respect the visitation and healthcare decision-making rights of LGBTQIA+ patients and their partners, children, and any others they may define as family for these purposes.

Striving to Improve Inclusive Care
Valley is committed to taking steps to making our healthcare and wellness services fully inclusive and respectful of people identifying as LGBTQIA+ as reflected in written forms, policies and procedures, appropriate training for all clinical and administrative staff, and standardized assessments. Valley’s policies do not allow discrimination based on orientation, gender identity or expression. Valley is always working to improve our procedures, behavior, language and physical environment to be more inclusive and helpful, including updates to our electronic medical record software, signs and communication skills. See Valley's Caregiver and Leader Commitment. If you see or experience something uncomfortable or that needs improvement at Valley Medical Center or one of our clinics, we would appreciate you letting us know by contacting us here.

Learning More About Who Our Patients Are Helps Valley Provide Better Care
Starting in 2023, regulatory agencies are requiring hospitals to collect more information about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI); Race, Ethnicity and Language (REaL); and disability status when admitting patients to the hospital or visiting any primary or specialty care clinics. Collecting this information lets us better understand the needs of our diverse community members, allowing us to better care for our community like family. This information is will be part of a patient's confidential medical record and answering the questions is voluntary.
Read the FAQs about how this information is used.
See the glossary of sexual orientation and gender identity terms used at Valley.

Valley's Patient & Family Advisory Council is actively recruiting and accepting patients and family members to serve on the PFAC, a committee dedicated to improving Valley's patient experience. Interested in more information about serving on this council? Please apply here.

A Recognized Leader in Healthcare Equality
Valley Medical Center was the first entity in the UW Medicine system to be acknowledged as an LGBT Leader in Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in 2012 and continues to earn this annual recognition.