A New Jersey hospital has named a trans woman as its new LGBTQ health guide in response to the state’s high demand for specialized primary-healthcare services for the LGBTQ community.
Jackie Baras was appointed as Robert Johnson Wood University Hospital’s first LGBTQ health navigator, a new position that will connect LGBTQ-identified patients and staff to available resources. RJWUH is currently the only hospital in New Jersey that offers healthcare services specifically for the LGBTQ community.
Baras was already working at the hospital as a quality nurse manager. She worked with organizations such as the Pride Center of New Jersey and Garden State Equality to address the needs of LGBTQ residents in the state.
“There’s a high demand and a big need for healthcare resources for the LGBT community in New Jersey,” Baras said. “We’re trying to eliminate LGBT healthcare disparities through education, community collaboration and providing much-needed resources.”
Baras has advocated for the hospital’s LGBTQ competency since joining the staff in 2014. She started with pushing for gender-neutral bathrooms as well as private bathrooms for trans patients. Along with seven other LGBTQ-identified staff members, Baras started the Promoting Respect, Outreach, Understanding and Dignity group to address the needs of LGBTQ employees. And she worked closely with hospital leadership to establish the PROUD Family Health Center at RWJUH Somerset — the first hospital-based LGBT clinic in New Jersey.
“I’m advocating for patients and ensuring that they are comfortable from beginning to end while at the hospital. Many LGBT individuals may not be aware of the broad range of resources that are available, and I am looking forward to connecting them with existing services.”
Baras will connect patients to resources that include referrals to specialists who are sensitive to LGBT healthcare needs, electrolysis referrals for trans patients and reproductive information for prospective parents. She will also continue assuming her role as the facilitator of the PROUDLY Me trans education and support group. The group offers additional resources and training sessions to the trans community, such as voice therapy or makeup lessons for trans women.
Baras said the hospital is “representing every day what we say we’re doing. Our journey should be ongoing.”
RJWUH launched its PROUD Community Advisory board earlier this year made up entirely of LGBTQ individuals who address specific healthcare needs directed at the community.
“We need to have a voice and the only way is to have members of the community working with you,” Baras said. “Our needs are very specific. If they don’t understand our needs, they can’t provide care.”
Vanessa Nazario, director of diversity and inclusion at RJWUH, said the hospital is implementing strategies to create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ patients and employees. Nazario added that the first order of business was changing the language on registration forms to ask for preferred name, gender identity and gender assigned at birth.
“We’ve been thinking about what is it that the hospital is missing, and we put those elements together to create an environment that supports our employees and is a safe place where patients feel comfortable coming into our hospital. People in the community can come to RWJUH and get excellent healthcare while being treated with respect and dignity,” she said.