A 22-year-old woman enters the clinic as a first-time patient. She tells the receptionist that she has not seen a physician for over 4 years, and she would like a check-up. She is given an intake form to fill out, on which she reports that her current gender identity is female, and her sex assigned at birth was male. Her first name is Markesha but her identification lists a masculine first name, Mark. While she is waiting to see a physician, she enters the women’s restroom. Another patient comes out of the women’s restroom and reports to the receptionist that she thinks a man is using the women’s restroom. The receptionist sends a medical assistant into the women’s restroom to see if there is a problem. The medical assistant returns and says everything is alright. Markesha exits the restroom and sits in the waiting area. A nurse appears with a chart and calls for Mark. Markesha looks around sheepishly. The nurse calls again for Mark. The patient who had reported a man in the women’s room laughs derisively. Markesha gets up and goes to the nurse, who takes her to an exam room. Markesha waits nervously for the physician.Pretend that you are the clinical manager and respond to the following as part of your initial post:Use your own critical thinking and write down the answers of the three questions below.1. How would you handle the restroom-related complaints about a transgender patient from other patients?2. What is the best way to address a patient whose preferred name doesn’t match the name on their state-issued identification? Why is this important?3. How would you work with clinic staff to address patients who criticize or harass transgender patients in the waiting room? What policies might you implement?
