INCLUSIVE PHARMACY PRACTICES
Imagine never seeing yourself anywhere - not on TV, in a magazine, or in a book. Being a member of a minority group may mean that you feel invisible or that you do not belong. Added to this feeling of disconnect is the reality that many transgender people face ignorance or discrimination while accessing healthcare. Names are not honoured, forms do not have boxes that offer accurate descriptions and practitioners may unknowingly augment gender dysphoria in their attempt to offer care. Even well-meaning clinicians, through their lack of knowledge and understanding, inadvertently add to the trauma experienced so often by transgender and gender diverse people when accessing healthcare.
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Entering your pharmacy to access healthcare is an act of great bravery for many transgender patients. There is a lot that you and your team can do to show transgender and gender diverse clients that you see them and to help make this interaction positive for them.
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As a pharmacist, if you want to let the transgender and the 2SLGBTQ+ community know that you see them, that you have done your homework and will engage with them and support them as an ally, then you need to educate yourself and your team first and then highlight this in your surroundings. Below are ideas to support this endeavour.
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***It is imperative that you and your team take the time to formally educate yourselves on diversity, inclusion and allyship to the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Merely putting up a Progress Pride Flag sticker but not undertaking diversity, inclusivity and sensitivity training for your team could result in the traumatization of transgender folks who are expecting allyship after seeing a symbol of solidarity. Please check out the Formal Learning section to arrange something for your team!***
Please use the ideas offered at the following websites to inspire change in your pharmacy surroundings, processes and atmosphere! Help transgender and gender diverse folks to feel safe so that they can access healthcare with confidence and receive the care that they need.
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From the Transgender and Gender Diverse Pharmacy Resource Guide APhA and Human Rights Campaign Foundation:
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Gender Related Data Management - make sure all staff know where to put and find preferred name/pronouns
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Skipping Stone Foundation Resources
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Tip Sheet for Healthcare Providers Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health, Ontario
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Safer Spaces: Create An Inclusive Workplace Environment The Gilbert Centre
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Smashing Stigma: LGBT2SQ Engagement in Pharmacy Practice Canadian Pharmacists Association
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Caring for Transgender Patients Checklist Pharmacists's Letter PDF
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Trans Patient Care Guide for Health Care Professionals Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA)
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Best Practice Guide Being An Ally Alberta Health Services
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Safer Places Toolkit Alberta Health Services, includes a section on discovering your "unconscious bias"
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LGBTQ2S Inclusion Playbook The 519
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Egale Affirming and Inclusive Language
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Egale Two Spirits One Voice Indigenous and LGBTQI Persons
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​Here is a quick list of visible changes that you and your team can make. These small acts of inclusion go a very long way to letting transgender patients and families know that they belong, that they are safe and that you and your team are allies!
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Add a Progress Pride Flag to your door, drop off counter, pick up counter, private counselling room, checkouts or all of the above!
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Post a Non-Discrimination Statement that highlights and confirms that you do not discriminate based on gender identification or expression
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Set up a gender-neutral washroom
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Arrange for name tags for all staff that share their pronouns or that state "ask me my pronouns"
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Wear an ally pin
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Modify any intake forms to include both sex and gender; to utilize language such as "persons with uteruses"; to make space for chosen name and pronouns used; explain why "sex assigned at birth" is asked for
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Offer magazines or brochures tailored to the 2SLGBTQ+ patient
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Hire diverse staff, showcase staff and their pronouns on your website
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Sign at the drop-off counter "Please share your pronouns with us!"
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Use chosen/affirming name for transgender patients in their pharmacy files; override name and utilize number identification
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Utilize gender field correctly; document AFAB or AMAB if able, as medically this may be important
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Document pronouns and affirming name so that all staff can respect the patient's needs
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Offer training on injections for transgender patients utilizing injectable medications
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Offer preventative care for negative coping strategies, such as Smoking Cessation
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Keep the pharmacy a space for everyone, while adding some touches that show you are inclusive for everyone and that it is a safe space. Be willing to learn, ask friendly questions and document your conversations so that all staff are on the same page and can support the patient. Honour affirmed names and pronouns at all times as a sign of respect and understanding. Apologize and move on if mistakes are made; dwelling on the error only magnifies the dysphoria for your patient.
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Important dates in the transgender community that are helpful to know are:
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March 31 - Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)
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May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT)
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June - Pride Month around the world
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Here is some inspiration from pharmacists across Canada:
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Dylan Moulton at Medi-Drugs
Greg Richard at Boyd's Pharmasave
Andrew Schonbe Smashing Stigma Creator​
