LGBTQ-Affirming Health Practice To Open In Haddonfield

HADDONFIELD, NJ — The LGBTQ+ community, which has been historically underserved in medical care, will soon have a safe place to go for stigma-free treatment.

Jefferson Health on Monday announced its new facility — Jefferson Health Haddonfield Primary & Specialty Care — will begin seeing patients next month.

What sets the facility apart from other health care offices is that it is a LGBTQ+ affirming practice, meaning it offers care tailored to the needs of often underserved groups, including the transgender population and those living with chronic illness. The staff will also be specifically trained in LGBTQ+ care and cultural competency.

“We will also provide hormone replacement therapy, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention upon opening. In the future, gynecology services and breast surgery will be available as well,” said Amanda Kimmel, VP of Ambulatory Operations at Jefferson Medical Group.

Although the facility offers care tailored to LGBTQ patients, the facility is open to all adults needing medical care, Jefferson Medical said in the release. It is located at 80 Tanner Street.

“Our goal is to foster a safe, positive space where the unique and specific health needs of the local LGBTQ+ community are met with compassion and expertise,” Kimmel said in a statement. “Despite existing federal protections, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face significant healthcare discrimination — which often leads to a delay in seeking both preventive care and care for urgent or life-threatening conditions.”

Dr. Todd Levin, an infectious disease specialist who serves as medical director for the facility, said it is important to offer LGBTQ+ people a safe place to get care that is free of judgement and stigma.

“As a member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I’ve always found it challenging to find competent healthcare. Our patients won’t have to worry about stigma and will know that every provider is trained to provide optimal care for them specifically,” Levin said in a statement. “Here, patients will feel accepted. And we can address issues that some providers are not comfortable talking about or treating, like prescribing PrEP for HIV prevention or giving the proper health screenings to transgender patients.”

The facility, located at 80 Tanner Street, is scheduled to begin seeing patients on Jan. 4.