Target audience: Healthcare providers and member organizations across Ontario sectors
Estimated read time: 3 minutes
Why it matters
Ontario Health has introduced a new quality standard, Gender-Affirming Care for Gender-Diverse People: Care for Adults, marking a pivotal step toward equitable and inclusive healthcare. For gender-diverse adults, this standard addresses the unique healthcare needs that are often overlooked, helping organizations ensure respectful, comprehensive care that positively impacts health outcomes.
Next steps
- Educate your teams about this new standard.
- Access resources in the Gender-Affirming Care for Gender-Diverse People guide to support implementation:
- Quality Standard: Evidence-based guidelines to ensure quality, inclusive care.
- Patient Guide: A resource for patients to help them advocate for their healthcare needs.
- Placemat: A quick-reference summary for clinicians, linking to helpful resources.
- Getting Started Guide: Tools for quality improvement and an action plan template.
- Case for Improvement Slide Deck: Data and insights to promote the standard’s adoption.
- Technical Specifications: Measurement guidelines to track progress and outcomes.
Dig Deeper
Gender-diverse people in Ontario face healthcare inequities that lead to poorer health outcomes and negative experiences with the healthcare system. According to the 2021 Canadian census, approximately 1 in 300 individuals in Ontario identifies as transgender or nonbinary, highlighting a growing demand for inclusive healthcare in the primary care system.
Ontario Health’s new quality standard provides best practices and actionable tools to help clinicians and organizations improve care quality. It includes resources for tracking progress, fostering inclusive environments, and ensuring that healthcare services meet the specific needs of gender-diverse adults.
Explore Ontario Health’s guide here for insights on implementing these practices: Gender-Affirming Care for Gender-Diverse People.
