Assessment of a Student-Run Free Gender-Affirming Care Clinic's Transition to Telehealth

Background: Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming (TGNC) people continue to experience severe health discrimination and limited access to care. Methods: Using survey data collected during August-September, 2020, we report on our findings regarding volunteer provider and patient satisfaction with a student-run free gender-affirming care telehealth clinic at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Results: We find that patients report overall excellent experiences with telehealth care, primarily due to decreased transportation burden, more efficient use of time, and more frequent communication with student volunteer providers. Conclusion: Our findings show that telehealth is a viable option for student-run clinics in the TGNC community.

Automated summary

The study found that TGNC individuals had more convenient access to healthcare through telehealth; the main advantages include reduced transportation burden, more efficient use of time, and more frequent communication with student volunteer providers.