PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria is expanding its health care services to the LGBTQ+ community.
Prior to now, the college, through its “Positive Health Solutions” unit, had only offered some services to LGBTQ+ patients, as well as people who are living with HIV and AIDS.
“It’s been something that’s become an increasing demand over time,” said Dr. Teresa Lynch, Chair of Internal Medicine at UICOMP. “But, there’s not a lot of expertise. The need has increased faster than the expertise.”
Lynch says a Primary Nurse Practitioner specializing in LGBTQ care has been added to the staff, so now what’s called “gender-affirming care” can be made available here, instead of those patients having to travel to Chicago or Springfield.
“I think the clinic is kind of a safe space,” said Lynch. “As some of these questions started to come up, and our providers started to notice that, and started to feel comfortable with that, and had experience with that, it was just a natural evolution over time.
Lynch says that includes both physical and mental health services here in Peoria, as well as a satellite office in Bloomington.
Not being able to get some of their health services close to home, Lynch says, can be a big problem for the LGBTQ+ community, which could comprise tens of thousands of local residents.
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