LGBQ+ Veteran care
VA Iron Mountain Healthcare System employees receive training in clinical care that is responsive to the unique needs of LGBQ+ Veterans.
Connect with a care coordinator
Care we provide at VA Iron Mountain health care
Our 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 LGBQ+ Veterans. These include:
- Mental health services
- Creative arts therapies
- Testing, counseling and care for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, including post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for Veterans at risk for HIV
- Other prevention, screening, wellness and testing services
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 patient. 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 Iron Mountain maintains the confidentiality of information about sexual orientation, sexual behavior and sexual identity, just like any other private health information.
Health Information
To learn important information about the unique health risks of LGBQ+ Veterans, download these relevant fact sheets. Here you can also find information about relevant services offered by VA.