LGBTQ+ Veteran care
Madison VA employees receive training in clinical care that is responsive to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans and are fully equipped to support the health, welfare and dignity of you and your family.
Connect with a care coordinator
Margo Edge LCSW
LGBTQ+ Veterans Care Coordinator
VA Madison health care
Phone:
Care we provide at VA Madison health care
We promote the health, welfare and dignity of Veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ+) or a related identity. As a result of stigma, stress and discrimination, LGBTQ+ Veterans face increased health risks and unique challenges in health care. We want you to be comfortable talking with your VA providers about all aspects of your life so we can offer you the best care possible. We focus on providing a welcoming environment when providing you with affirming and high-quality health care services like:
- Mental health services
- Creative Art Therapy
- Prosthetics
- Hormone Therapy
- Substance Use/Alcohol Treatment
- Tobacco Use Treatment
- Treatment and prevention of sexually transmitted infections PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for Veterans at risk for HIV
- Intimate partner violence reduction and treatment of aftereffects
- Military sexual trauma screening and treatment of aftereffects
- Suicide prevention services. If you are in crisis, call the 24-hour Crisis Hotline at 988 (option 1) or visit the Veterans Crisis Line.
- Heart health
- Whole Health
- Cancer screening, prevention and treatment
- Infertility: VA is committed to helping Veterans navigate challenges that may arise from issues with fertility and the conception of a child.
- Other prevention, screening, wellness and testing services
Policies and practices to know
The care coordinator can help you get started with care or with navigating any of these issues.
Advance directives
Veterans may designate any person as a decision-maker for care if they aren’t able to make these decisions themselves. This includes same-sex partners.
Documentation in medical records
Madison VA maintains confidentiality of information regarding sexual orientation, just like any other private health information. You can request that this information not be entered into your medical record.
Sexual Orientation Annual Reminder: Asking about sexual orientation is part of a routine health assessment. Your VA providers will ask about your sexual orientation in order to better understand your social and health concerns to provide you with the most comprehensive, affirming health care.
Birth Sex Field: You have the right to request that your birth sex be updated as appropriate. There are established procedures for changing your birth sex with the VA privacy officer.
Legal Name: If you have legally changed your name, it is important to update your medical record. There are established procedures for changing your legal name with the VA privacy officer.
Preferred Name: You can update your preferred name in your medical record which will appear in parenthesis by your legal name [example: John (Jo) Smith]. Updating your preferred name does not require any documentation. There are two ways to update your preferred name.
First you can update your preferred name by updating your information with registration.
The second way you can update your preferred name is by going to VA.gov, click “Sign In” in the upper righthand corner. Open your profile and click on “Personal Information.”
Definition of family
“Family” may include individual(s) not legally related to the individual. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, and different-sex and same-sex significant others.
Visitation
A same-sex partner, family member, friend, or other individual can be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of the patient’s stay.
Pronouns
It is VHA policy that all staff, clinical and administrative, refer to Veterans by their pronouns both in verbal communication and in documentation.
Statement of Inclusion and Support
It is our policy not to engage in discrimination against any person employed, seeking employment or seeking patient care.
You will be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect as an individual. Consistent with federal law, VA policy and accreditation standards of the Joint Commission, you will not be subject to discrimination for any reason, including for reasons of age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex and sexual orientation.