Source: willitsnews.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working in partnership with its newest physician, Dr. Barbara Kilian, Mendocino Coast Clinics (MCC) is starting a new service called \u201cOpen Door\u201d to reach out to the LGBTQ and sex positive community. Dr. Kilian is spearheading the effort, which will open starting one day a week in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and sex positive community face discrimination in many areas of their lives, including healthcare,\u201d she said. Sex positive is a term used to describe a tolerant or progressive attitude towards sex and sexuality, one that does not discriminate against non-traditional relationships and behaviors such as open relationships, kink, fetishes, and erotic practices or role-playing involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism. Also, some people are asexual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Kilian explained that people in these minority groups (LGBTQ\/sex positive\/asexual) who need healthcare are in an even more vulnerable position than most people who need healthcare because they fear they will be judged or face prejudice. When people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed in a healthcare setting, they may not be forthcoming about their symptoms or concerns; some choose to forego care altogether to avoid this situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is especially dangerous for LGBTQ teens who have a higher-than-average suicide rate,\u201d Dr. Kilian said. \u201cAnd I know trans people who say they would rather die\u2014literally\u2014than go to a hospital emergency department and be treated as \u2018less than.\u2019\u201d She says all people deserve a safe place to receive healthcare, and she intends to create just such a place on the Mendocino Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open Door @ MCC will be centered around sexual health, but it will also be a place where people in LGBTQ and sex positive people can come to be referred for other types of medical and behavioral health care. \u201cWe\u2019ll be a safe place to start and either we\u2019ll be equipped to provide the care directly or we\u2019ll refer patients to providers who have been vetted, who we know are welcoming and well-versed in LGBTQ and sex positive issues,\u201d she said. For example, Dr. Kilian plans to offer the initial screening for gender reassignment surgery. If patients decide to pursue surgery, Dr. Kilian will refer them to a transgender-friendly doctor. If a teen patient comes in and needs gynecological care, Dr. Kilian will work with Blue Door @ MCC to make sure the teen feels safe and comfortable with their medical provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before moving to Fort Bragg, Dr. Kilian worked as an emergency room doctor and ran a small sex positive practice in San Francisco. Open Door @ MCC will begin seeing patients one day a week beginning in July and will expand its hours as the demand for services grows. For more information, call (707) 964-1251 and ask for Dr. Kilian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MCC is a local, non-profit, federally qualified health center offering medical, dental and behavioral health care to people in the coastal communities of Mendocino County.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Source: willitsnews.com Working in partnership with its newest physician, Dr. Barbara Kilian, Mendocino Coast Clinics (MCC) is starting a new […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[838,642,840,836,839,166],"class_list":["post-659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sex-reassignment","tag-dr-barbara-kilian","tag-gender-reassignment-2","tag-lgbtq","tag-mendocino-coast-clinics","tag-physician","tag-surgery"],"yoast_head":"\n