LGBTQ Care at Cooley Dickinson Hospital

A Leader in Healthcare Equality

LGBTQ Care


Cooley Dickinson Health Care is committed to providing the highest standard of care for every individual in our community, at all points on the spectrums of gender and sexuality. We are dedicated to the inclusion of LGBTQ people in all aspects of our services–for patients, families and employees. We promote LGBTQ health equity and access to care through staff training, specialized services in transgender health, inclusive patient policies, and affirming benefits for our employees.

A Leader in Healthcare Equality

Cooley Dickinson is the only hospital in Western Massachusetts to be recognized as a leader in LGBTQ healthcare equality for the second year in a row, and was recently awarded the highest possible score on the 2022 Healthcare Equality Index.


 

LGBTQ Care at Cooley Dickinson is overseen by Dr. Miranda Balkin, Medical Director of LGBTQ Services. Dr. Balkin is also a Family Medicine physician and the Medical Director of Oxbow Primary Care in Northampton.

 

 

External resources are not in any way affiliated with or endorsed by CDH, but links are provided as a community service to LGBTQ community members.

Additional Resources:

Massachusetts & National

Connecticut 

  • True Colors – (Community organization service LGBTQ youth in Hartford, CT)

New Hampshire 

Vermont 

  • Out in the Open (LGBTQ Community Organization and Peer Support in Brattleboro, VT)

Upstate New York 

 

CONTACT: Transforming Parents (A community support group for parents of transgender children of any age)

Learn About Pioneers LGBTQ History

LGBTQ Health Awareness

Did you know…

  • 31% of gay and bisexual men say they don’t have a regular place to go to receive medical care or do not have a regular physician
  • Transgender people have a high prevalence of mental health issues, HIV, STIs, but are the least likely population to have health insurance
  • Lesbians and bisexual women are more likely to be overweight or obese, more likely to smoke, and less likely to get screened for breast and cervical cancers compared to heterosexual women
  • For LGBTQ people of color, these risks are even higher
  • If you live an actively high-risk lifestyle with multiple sexual partners (or just one who hasn’t been tested) do you know about HIV PrEP? (It could save your life).

Cooley Dickinson Hospital acknowledges LGBTQ populations as a unique health care demographic, and we work to highlight that demographic in our community outreach as one that is at elevated risk for many health concerns. 

National Coalition for LGBT Health, Cooley Dickinson Medical Group, Northampton, MA 01060.

LISTEN/READ

Dr. Miranda Balkin, Medical Director of Cooley Dickinson’s LGBTQ Care program and Oxbow Primary Care, speaks with NEPM’s Karen Brown about the rising demand for trans-focused health care in the region.

 

Cooley Dickinson Hospital once again scored 100/100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2022 Healthcare Equality Index, confirming its commitment to caring for the LGBTQ community through affirmative policies on patient non-discrimination, patient services and support, visitation, employment non-discrimination and training in LGBTQ patient care.

For more information on LGBTQ resources, please direct inquiries to the LGBTQ Ombudsman.