LGBTQ+ Veteran care
VA Coatesville health care employees receive training in clinical care that is responsive to the unique needs of LGBTQ+ Veterans. Our trained LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators are fully equipped to support the health, welfare, and dignity of you and your family.
Connect with a care coordinator
Christina Clements LCSW, MEd
LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator
VA Coatesville health care
Phone: 610-384-7711, ext. 2806
Email: Christina.Clements@va.gov
Care we provide at VA Coatesville
Our LGBTQ+ Veteran care coordinators can answer your questions, advocate for your right to quality care, handle complaints or concerns you have about your care, and help you get started with any of our services for LGBTQ+ Veterans.
Policies and practices to know
The care coordinator can help you get started with care or with navigating any of these issues.
Visitation: A same-sex partner, family member, friend, or other individual can be present with the patient for emotional support during the course of the patient's stay.
Definition of family: "Family" may include individual(s) not legally related to the individual. Family members include spouses, domestic partners, different-sex and same-sex significant others.
Advance directives: Veterans may designate any person as a decision-maker for care if they won't be able to make these decisions themselves. This includes same-sex partners. Advance directive agents are chosen by the Veteran and do not need to be biologically related.
Documentation in medical records: VA Coatesville maintains the confidentiality of information about sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and gender identity, just like any other private health information.
Changing name, self-identified gender identity or sex in records: The Department of Veterans Affairs includes gender identity and preferred name in its national medical record system to help VA providers better understand and meet the health care needs of Veterans. As of June 27th, 2022, VA patients can view, enter and edit their gender identity and preferred name at VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs. This feature of VA.gov gives Veterans the ability to enter information about themselves into their health record without going through a VA staff person. With this solution, VA is giving Veterans more control and choice when it comes to their healthcare information.
Sexual Orientation, legal name, and sex cannot, at this time, be entered by Veterans at VA.gov personal information section. Please speak with your provider about updating this information in your records.