Recognized as a leader in LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Plus) healthcare equity in the United States, NYU Langone Health’s Gender Affirming Program offers comprehensive care for transgender and gender non-binary people (TGNB). This includes multiple gender affirming surgeries, hormone therapy, post-operative rehabilitation care, transgender health support services and a Gender and Sexuality Service for TGNB youth. This program, at a prominent academic medical center, is at the forefront of research and innovation in transgender surgery with over 600 various procedures performed annually. Following the standards of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the multidisciplinary team uses the most advanced techniques to restore both form and function for TGNB people to meet their personal goals and expectations.

The program’s Registered Nurse collaborates with the Health Literacy Specialist from Patient and Family Education to convert pre and post-operative handouts and other patient education resources (email/video scripts, caregiver guides, etc.) into Plain Language. Their collaboration ensures that patient education materials are health literate and culturally sensitive for their multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, and gender diverse patient population.

The methodology is the following:

• Clinicians (doctors, nurses, etc.) determine needed topics and compose drafts.
• Health Literacy Specialist rewrites drafts in Plain Language and applies Health Literacy best practices and design.
• When revisions are finalized, they are archived and uploaded to the digital Patient Education Handouts Library on the NYU Langone internal website and our electronic health record system (Epic). Materials are translated as needed.

Gender affirming patients require an abundance of patient education and support services to prepare for surgery both physically and psychologically. This has been especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these surgeries require post-operative care that can be challenging and overwhelming for patients. Their recovery process requires a strong support system and a lifelong commitment to the post-operative plan of care. These health literate patient education resources reinforce key messages and serve as a handbook for their care. The diverse multidisciplinary gender affirming team at NYU Langone provides services that give patients the necessary physical and emotional care to advance health equity for the LGBTQ+ community.