Accessibility of primary care physician offices

Purpose: To determine the level of accessibility in primary care physician's offices.

Methods: The Rehabilitation Engineer performed modified ADA assessments on 68 primary care physician's offices statewide. The modified assessment included 93 separate accessibility criteria. The practices were assessed using a tape measure, inclinometer and fish scale. Practice statistics (e.g. rural/urban, type of facility, number of doctors, etc.) were also gathered on each office.

Results: With each ADA item equally weighted, the average accessibility score was 70% with a range of 40%-90%. There were many low scoring key items: lever door handles (56%), car parking (51%), 1:12 ramp slope (50%), door pull weight (43%). These items may prevent a person with a disability from entering the practice.

There were several low scoring items internal to the buildings: adjustable-height table (44%), fully accessible restroom (8%), wheelchair-accessible scale (1%). It is imperative, for patient safety, to have a height adjustable table providing a safe, level transfer area. Patients with certain disabilities need to be able to use the restroom to prevent incontinence and potentially life threatening reactions due to bladder distension. Obtaining accurate weights is critical to provide correct medication dosages and monitor weight changes that may indicate or lead to health problems.

Conclusions: Several key accessibility items have a great impact on the quality of health care provided. Many of these items can be readily modified with little cost. The low level of accessibility of health care providers is unacceptable 18 years after the passage of the ADA.