Lgbtq+ veteran care | veterans affairs

VA Pittsburgh health care employees receive training in clinical care that is responsive to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans. Our trained LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators are fully

equipped to support the health, welfare, and dignity of you and your family. CARE WE PROVIDE AT VA PITTSBURGH Our LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators can answer your questions, advocate for

your right to quality care, handle complaints or concerns you have about your care, and help you get started with any of our services for LGBTQ+ Veterans. These include: * Mental health

services, including psychosocial assessments  * Creative arts therapies * Hormone therapy in limited circumstances * HIV and STI testing, counseling, and care, including PEP (post-exposure

prophylaxis) and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for Veterans at risk for HIV * 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. 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. DEFINITION OF FAMILY: "Family" may include individual(s) not legally related to the individual. Family

members include spouses, domestic partners, different-sex and same-sex significant others. ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: Veterans may designate any person as a decision-maker for care if they

won't be able to make these decisions themselves. This includes same-sex partners. Advance directive agents are chosen by the Veteran and do not need to be biologically related.