Multidisciplinary Care and the Standards of Care for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals

In providing care to transgender patients, surgeons interact with health care providers of other disciplines, including medical and mental health providers. Mental health or medical providers often see a patient first, when hormones are initiated. The Standards of Care recommend that mental health professionals assess patients for surgery according to set criteria and send surgeons their evaluations prior to surgery. Open communication is essential between surgical, medical, and mental health providers as well as with patients, who must give informed consent. A patient's multidisciplinary team can continue to provide care across a patient's life span.