About Us

Background and History of Gender Health SF

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) established Gender Health SF to provide access to gender-affirming surgeries, education, and preparation services to eligible uninsured and publicly insured transgender, nonbinary, and intersex residents. SFDPH currently offers a range of health services to transgender, nonbinary, and intersex residents such as primary care, prevention, behavioral health, hormone therapy, specialty, and inpatient care.

This new initiative was born out of the incredible work of community advocates, which ultimately led to the following developments:

• The Board of Supervisors adopted resolution number 288-12 in July 2012, encouraging the Department to ensure the provision of medically necessary gender-transition-related care.
• In addition, in November 2012, the San Francisco Health Commission approved the following:
• Creation of Gender Health SF to manage access and peer-led navigation services to gender-affirming surgeries for eligible uninsured and publicly insured transgender and non-binary San Francisco residents within the San Francisco Health Network and community clinic consortium.
• Currently, gender dysphoria or gender incongruence is used as a clinical indication for surgical intervention and treatment.
• Removal of “transgender surgery” from the list of excluded services under the Healthy San Francisco program.



Peer Navigation

All patients referred to Gender Health SF for gender-affirming surgery will be connected to a peer patient navigator. Patient navigators monitor patient care from the point of referral through post-op surgical care and follow-up. A patient navigator will assist in moving a patient through the process of gender-affirming surgeries and procedures, which includes:

• Provide resources and information to help a patient reach their goals
• Provide group and one-to-one patient education
• Offer supports in the surgeon selection process
• Teach self-advocacy skills with patients
• Accompany patients to appointments as needed
• Provide peer-led groups, such as patient education, and post-operative groups
• Engage patients in wellness programs, such as smoking cessation, diet and nutrition, and mental well-being goals



All SF Health Network, DPH Clinic, and DPH consortium clinic patients are eligible for patient navigation. A referral from your PCP clinic is required to establish services with Gender Health SF. Please discuss with your primary care provider or call Gender Health SF mainline for more information regarding navigation. Please see Gender Affirming Surgery Access & Services for more information about referral process.

 

 

 

Gender Health SF San Francisco Department of Public Health 628.217.5788 Main Line | 628.217.5799 Fax Email Us