LGBTQIA+ Care at Community

Every patient deserves a provider who’s open to your needs. For the LGBTQIA+ community of Central Indiana, Community is the place where providers listen so you can get what you really need for your lifelong health.

Mike Giffen, DO practices at Family Medicine and Pediatric Care, Geist, part of Community Physician Network. As a specialist in LGBTQIA+ care, he’s now seeing patients of all ages on the northeast side of Indianapolis.

“It’s so important that you feel comfortable with your provider,” Dr. Giffen says. “You’ve got to have open communication so you can express your needs and make sure they get met. Most of my patients have done their research and know exactly where they want to go, so I’m really just here to listen and help them reach their goals.”

“And if you don’t know what you want, that’s okay, too!” he adds. “We can adjust your care on the fly. When you’re my patient, you’re in the driver’s seat.”

Primary Care

The foundation for any patient’s health is good primary care. Not all LGBTQIA+ patients need extra care — but for those who do, it’s important to have a provider who’s comfortable listening to your needs and competent in helping you meet those needs.

As a primary care provider, Dr. Giffen is a lifelong partner in health for people of all ages. That includes making sure your blood pressure is in a good place, that your thyroid is healthy, and that your aches and sprains are taken care of, among other things.

It also means getting that personalized care when you need it. “If you’re a transgender man who was assigned female at birth, you deserve a provider who knows that pap smears are still an important part of your overall health,” explains Dr. Giffen.

Gender-Affirming Care

For transgender patients, gender-affirming care is our standard. It begins with the primary care services you’d expect from any provider, but expands to cover every part of your journey.

“It’s really about the journey that’s unique to every patient,” says Dr. Giffen. “My first question for transgender patients is always: what do you want out of this patient-provider relationship? For some people that’s voice therapy, for others it’s getting connected to mental health support groups. Whatever your goal is, I want to help you get there.”

Dr. Giffen provides hormone therapy for patients 18 and up. Since hormone levels should be checked every three months or so, there’s a lab right on site where Dr. Giffen practices. That way you can get all the services you need in one place, without driving around town for lab work.

While Community doesn’t currently offer top or bottom surgery, Dr. Giffen can connect you to resources to learn more about those procedures and where they can be done across Central Indiana.

HIV Care

For individuals who are at higher risk for HIV, Dr. Giffen is committed to exceptional care. For many, it begins with prevention.

The first line of defense against HIV is pre-exposure prophylaxis, also known as PrEP. Certain sexual activities can put you at higher risk of contracting HIV. PrEP is an easy, safe medication you can take once a day to lower your risk.

There’s also PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is a medication that’s used within 72 hours of possible exposure that lowers your risk of contracting HIV.

Whether you need answers before or after potential exposure, Community offers free HIV tests as often as you need them. We can also help you understand your risks, what happens during a test and what to do with your results. Here’s where to go for your free HIV test:

MedCheck East
7910 E Washington St.
317-355-3200

• Mon: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tues/Weds/Fri: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Thur/Sat: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

If you’re looking for a provider who’s competent and confident in providing care for LGBTQ+ patients of all ages, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Giffen on his Find A Doc page.

And if you need help with the cost of care or don’t have insurance, talk to Community’s Pricing Support Center. We can help you find coverage, often before your appointment.