[acb-hsp] [leadership] FYI: Doctors' offices unprepared

[peter altschul]

---- Original Message ------
From: "Sharon Lovering" <slovering at acb.org
Subject: [leadership] FYI: Doctors' offices unprepared
Date sent: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 10:19:56 -0400

Equal Rights Center Investigation Uncovers Widespread 
Accessibility
Violations by Medical Care Providers


WASHINGTON, D.C., November 2, 2011-Tomorrow, the Equal Rights 
Center (ERC)
will release a report documenting staggering levels of violations 
of federal
accessibility requirements at hospitals, doctor's offices, and 
pharmacies
across the nation.  The report, "Ill-Prepared: Health Care's 
Barriers for
People with Disabilities," reveals that less than 25 percent of 
medical
service providers were compliant with accessibility standards 
required under
federal law.



"The denial of accessible health care compromises medical 
treatment and puts
both health and lives at risk," said Donald Kahl, ERC Executive 
Director.
"We hope that, after reading this report, health care service 
providers will
take the steps needed to comply with the law and effectively 
treat all
patients, including people with disabilities."



The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibit both private and publically 
funded
health care providers from discriminating against people with 
disabilities,
and establish national standards to ensure that the health care 
facilities
and services are accessible.



Each year, the ERC receives numerous complaints from individuals 
with
disabilities across the nation who experience substantial health 
care
disparities and lack of access to appropriate care.  To further 
investigate
these claims, the ERC initiated a three-pronged series of 
investigations
focused on structural barriers in health care facilities, 
inaccessible
medical equipment, and policies and procedures that create access 
barriers
for patients with disabilities, such as inaccessible forms of 
communication.




The ERC's investigation revealed significant barriers in the 
structural
accessibility of doctors' offices and equipment, and in effective
communication for individuals who are blind or have low vision.  
As detailed
in today's report, of the hundreds of tested facilities:



*         Only 20 percent of optometrists' offices were able to 
perform a
complete eye exam on someone who uses a wheelchair;

*         Only 23 percent of doctors' offices and hospitals 
offered patient
information in large print, and only 24 percent offered patient 
information
in an accessible format; and

*         Only 1 percent of pharmacies offered any information in 
Braille
and only 1 percent offered audible prescription bottles.  In 
fact, 86
percent of tested pharmacies would not accommodate the use of an 
audible
prescription bottle even if provided by the customer.

"Despite legal accessibility requirements, significant 
impediments to
service remain for the more than 54 million Americans living with 
a
disability.  These problems will only become more devastating as 
baby
boomers age and the number of people with disabilities continues 
to grow,"
said Kat Taylor, ERC Disability Rights Manager.  "Access not only 
benefits
individuals, but also society at large by creating a larger pool 
of healthy,
productive, working citizens.  The ERC is committed to ensuring 
equal access
for all, and we hope that the findings in this report will lead 
service
providers to join in this effort."



To read the full report, go to:  
www.equalrightscenter.org/illprepared