NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson Opens New Pride Health Center for LGBTQ Youth
Center joins the public health system's existing four Pride Health Centers The Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognizes the public health system as a "Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality"
Oct 11, 2019
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the opening of a new comprehensive Pride Health Center, dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/ questioning (LGBTQ) adolescent and emerging adult patients. The new health center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson will focus on providing comprehensive, effective, and affirming patient-centered and culturally sensitive health services to adolescent LGBTQ communities. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson is a youth clinic, specializing in adolescent and emerging adult health. It is home to the Bridge Program, which helps continuity of care between adolescents and adults ages 13 to 35. The new Pride Health Center is the public health system’s fifth, building on a commitment to LGBTQ New Yorkers that has earned the system national recognition by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as “Leaders in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.” Judson is also a part of First Lady Chirlane McCray’s NYC Unity Project, the City’s first-ever, multi-agency strategy to deliver unique services to LGBTQ youth.
“It is an important milestone for NYC Health + Hospitals to announce a new health center that targets a population that is often overlooked and underserved,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “We’re proud of the innovative programs we’re developing to engage adolescent LGBTQ patients, further illustrating our commitment to engage all New Yorkers and provide access to inclusive, culturally responsive, high-quality health care.”
“NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health is focused on providing patient-centered care that addresses the specific healthcare needs of all the communities we serve,” said Michelle Lewis, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. “We feel it’s essential that healthcare services are provided in facilities that are viewed by their communities as welcoming, inclusive, and convenient.”
Services at Gotham Health, Judson include primary care, birth control and pregnancy testing, hormone therapy, same day visits, testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). In addition, affirming gynecological care is available during clinic hours to patients of all genders. The new Pride Health Center will accommodate 20,000 annual patient visits for the community. In addition to primary care physicians specifically trained in caring for adolescents and emerging adults, the interdisciplinary care team at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson also includes clinicians who offer special visits for nutrition and exercise counseling, psychiatry services, and two therapeutic social workers.
Engaging adolescent LGBTQ remains a challenge for healthcare providers. LGBTQ youth often face discrimination when seeking health care at clinics and hospitals and find it difficult to share information regarding their sexual orientation and gender identity with their clinicians. These factors create significant barriers to care which can contribute to poorer health outcomes for this population.
“I congratulate NYC Health + Hospitals on the opening of this new Pride Health Center,” said Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard N. Gottfried. “This isn’t just about hanging a rainbow sign. It’s about training staff to understand and respect the specific needs of their LGBTQ patients – especially LGBTQ youth. NYC Health + Hospitals has earned national recognition for its dedication to equity in health care for LGBTQ New Yorkers and I encourage this population to seek out health care services at these facilities.”
“Once again, NYC Health + Hospitals is leading the way in ensuring that LGBTQ+ communities have access to the affirming, supportive services we need,” says Ashe McGovern, Executive Director of the NYC Unity Project. “With this new center, NYC Health + Hospitals is solidifying its position as a national leader and offering an exemplary model for public hospitals and health systems across the country.”
“It is crucial for us to remove barriers to care for New York’s LGBTQ youth and adults, which is why I commend NYC Health + Hospitals for opening of this new Pride Health Center, the third health center of its kind right in the district I represent,” said Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. “Many thanks to NYC Health + Hospitals for their continued commitment to providing inclusive and comprehensive health care to our LGBTQ community.”
“The LGBTQ+ youth care at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson is like no other,” said patient Tai S. “I feel so at ease and welcomed when I visit. It’s such a safe space in which I feel affirmed and heard. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson has made my transition as beautiful and seamless than I ever could have imagined, and I am incredibly grateful.”
“As someone who is preparing to transition from female to male, being on top of my health is a priority,” said patient Milo A. “Everyone at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson has been such a great help and welcomed me with open arms. I couldn’t be more grateful for such an amazing, supportive clinic.”
NYC Health + Hospitals is a leader in LGBTQ medical and psychosocial care, offers a variety of services through its five Pride Health Centers, and offers some gender-affirming surgeries. These sites have received the “Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality” designation from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for 2019. This honor acknowledges hospitals, community health centers, and nursing homes across the country that embrace LGBTQ inclusion and patient-centered care. Expanding access to care for LGBTQ patients is part of the health system’s broader multi-year redesign to build a competitive, sustainable organization that will continue to offer high-quality and accessible health care to the people of New York City.
LGBTQ youth face particular challenges; in addition to navigating the developmental issues faced by all adolescents, they must establish a sense of their own sexual orientation and gender identity, decide when and to whom to “come out,” and often confront social ostracism and family rejection. This has contributed to a higher burden of homelessness among LGBTQ youth and poorer health outcomes. Many LGBTQ youth and emerging adults, however, show remarkable resilience to life challenges. Research has shown that family acceptance leads to greater self-esteem, social support, and better health outcomes, as well as protection against substance abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Located at 34 Spring Street, the Pride Health Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Pride Centers
To better serve the health care needs of New York City’s communities, NYC Health + Hospitals has five Pride Health Centers that provide culturally responsive health services to LGBTQ New Yorkers and address barriers that contribute to health disparities among LGBTQ youth and adults. The centers offer services for women’s health; men’s health; gender transition; hormone therapy; HIV and STD prevention, screening, and treatment services; adolescent care; social work and behavioral health services; and general primary care.
- The Pride Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue
- The Pride Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Gouverneur
- The Pride Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Judson
- The Pride Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan
- The Pride Center at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
For more information about LGBTQ health services, visit nychealthandhospitals.org/LGBTQHealth or call 1-844-NYC-4NYC.