My Essay on Hysterectomies and Trauma Informed Care Published Today at PublicSource

My Essay on Hysterectomies and Trauma Informed Care Published Today at PublicSource

I wrote a thing, summarizing the institutional failures around gynecology and sexual trauma. Among other failings. Also, in the pensive cover photo you can’t see that I am standing next to a litter box while my cat is licking my ankles. I’m a pro. Gynecologists should have nursing or social work staff doing follow-up with […]

UPMC v Highmark: Chapter 897689

Highmark UPMC

For the past several months, I have been interviewed by reporter Carolyn Johnson for a Washington Post piece on the Pittsburgh healthcare scene. More specifically, she was writing about the impact of two companies ‘stacking’ healthcare insurance with healthcare providers into what we know as UPMC and Highmark/Allegheny Health Network. I think vertical integration is the […]

When Allegheny Health Network & Highmark Aren’t on Speaking Terms

lesbian hysterectomy

So I still have no date for my hysterectomy. My doctor, Lee Hammons, joined Allegheny Women’s Health in September 2017. They are part of the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) which is owned by Highmark. We have Highmark insurance. But Highmark has not yet approved Dr. Hammons to perform surgeries. At least, that’s what his office […]

TransPride Pgh Changes Annual Conference Schedule to Respect Yom Kippur

Transgender Pittsburgh

This is a simple story, but one that illustrates cultural competency and respect by a LGBTQ organization. Earlier this year, TransPride Pittsburgh announced plans for their annual TransPride Pride Week and weekend conference, set for the end of September. The weekend conference was scheduled to have a professional day on Friday September 29, a community […]

Forbes Hospital’s Inadequate Response to Transphobic Employees

Via KDKA TV, last night I learned about a developing story at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville. Some anonymous female employees at this Allegheny Health Network facility had voiced complaints about a trans woman employee being permitted to use the ladies bathroom. First, the good. Allegheny Health Network is following the law with regard to allowing […]

When UPMC and Highmark Work Together: Saving the Life of a Newborn Baby

I was so saddened to learn that a neighbor of mine from the Northside was killed in a terrible car accident Wednesday evening. Her name was Jodie Guthrie and while I did not know her, I am a regular customer at the Rite-Aid where she was killed. She lived near my neighborhood. Jodie was pregnant, […]

Did Highmark, Caring Place Intentionally Schedule Competing Movie Against ReelQ Film Festival?

  A weekly feature on the GLCC blog highlights an important fact about LGBTQ Pgh – there are many, many “things to do” nearly every day, sometimes to the point of being overwhelmed by choices. This is a far cry from even ten years ago when a handful of monthly events were pretty much it […]

Partner of Alleg Co Employee Speaks Out on Termination of Domestic Partner Benefits

Allegheny County Domestic Partnership

  I am scheduled for a total knee replacement 8/2014. I also need to have a hysterectomy as I have tested positive for precancerous cells and have a family history. Eileen Halloran  and her partner have been together for nearly ten years. They have 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren. Five years ago, Eileen’s partner took […]

Pitt Health Study Explores Disparities in LGBT Research

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports on new research published today. The National Institutes of Health funded only a negligible number of studies researching the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people over more than two decades, according to an analysis led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Because of that, health […]

UPMC/Highmark – It’s a Catty New World

Friday night, our car was rear ended while we running some errands. No one was seriously hurt – it was just an accident. The car in front of us made a sudden right hand turn into a car dealership. We were able to stop, but the woman behind us was not. Most important, her son […]