Folx Heath is a virtual care provider designed by and for the LGBTQ+ community, so the rise in monkeypox cases and the effect it was having on the community spurred the company to act. Folx knew it needed to get in front of the issue, which was mired in confusion, as a source of solid health information and solutions.
The company expanded on its virtual primary care offering with a focus on monkeypox so those at risk or infected can virtually meet with licensed clinicians who specialize in queer and trans healthcare for education or counseling as well as help finding a vaccination or treatment sites.
“When we recognized what was going on and how it was directly affecting our community, that is our kind of call to action and making sure that we are actually taking care of this community in the best way possible and providing the information that is accurate and accessible to people,” Folx Health Chief Clinical Officer Kate Steinle said.
The confusion around just what monkeypox is and how it’s transmitted has affected people in dealing with the disease. It’s important to keep the conversations about education, diagnosis and treatment and not finger-wagging, blame and shame. To help with that, the company puts out library articles with information that is accessible to all, not just members or users of the platform, but as a resource for clinicians everywhere.
“We are uniquely situated to be like, here's something that is directly affecting our community. We have the clinicians who have been experienced in preparing for this community for decades, so they know how to speak to the entirety of the community. They know what particular barriers they've had to deal with in healthcare before,” Steinle said.
Folx’s general virtual primary care option has expanded to almost all 50 states, enabling LGBTQ+ people to get consults and prescriptions for general and sexual health. This includes access to birth control, STD and STIs, infection and family planning. This builds upon the company’s existing end-to-end care, option of gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy, PrEP and help dealing with the healthcare system.