By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cybersecurity
    4 Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Medical Practice Against Cyber Attacks
    October 24, 2021
    Health Check Diagnosis Medical Condition Analysis Concept
    6 Health Woes With Online Remedies
    January 19, 2022
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    April 24, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    healthy nursing school habits
    Healthy Habits for Nursing Student Nursing School Students
    May 24, 2024
    High Deductables
    High-Deductible Insurance and Rising Bad Debt
    July 24, 2015
    How People Are Taking Advantage of Health Deals in the Recent Recession
    February 5, 2021
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: ADA Compliance in Your Medical Facility
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health care > ADA Compliance in Your Medical Facility
Health carePolicy & LawPublic Health

ADA Compliance in Your Medical Facility

Kara Reynolds
Last updated: May 13, 2018 8:23 pm
Kara Reynolds
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
Physical Accommodation RequirementsAccommodations That Go Beyond Obvious Physical Modifications

Of all the places the average person might think would be sensitive to the needs of those with disabilities, medical facilities would top the list. However, not all medical facilities meet ADA compliance directives. This oversight causes a huge number of problems for the most vulnerable patients. To serve all patients with the highest level of care, medical facilities must maintain compliance with ADA requirements in their physical offices and online presence.

Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, along with Section 504, require that medical facilities provide individuals with disabilities full and equal access to their health care services and facilities. These facilities must make reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities unless doing so would change the essential nature of the care provided. Recent court cases have highlighted the fact that accessibility does not only apply to the physical location of the medical facility, but also to the practice’s online presence.

Physical Accommodation Requirements

When many providers think of accommodation, what comes to mind is modifying the entryway to the office to make it accessible to patients in a wheelchair. While this is certainly one of the accommodations required by law, it is far from the only thing needed if one is to comply with the spirit and letter of the ADA.

More Read

unplanned pregnancy counseling
Unplanned Pregnancy: Counseling Patients and Finding Help
Texas Health Plan May Strand Thousands of Women
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
More Obesity News from The Lancet
The Importance of Infographics in Healthcare Marketing

There is a requirement that medical facilities allow disabled patients to “get through the door.” This does not mean the facility must provide wheelchair ramps at every entrance. However, at least one entrance, preferably the main one, must include a ramp for disabled access. Likewise, doorways need to be wide enough to allow those in wheelchairs to pass comfortably. The ADAAG standards specify that doorways need to be at least 32 inches wide when the door is opened 90 degrees to allow for wheelchair access.

What if the facility is located along a city street with no curb cuts? Curb cuts are small ramps in the majority of city sidewalks that allow for wheelchair access. If the facility does not own or control the sidewalk, the responsibility for curb cuts fall on the city and the facility does not need to install its own. However, if the facility does own or control the sidewalk, then it must provide a curb ramp for patients.

Likewise, if the facility’s parking is on city-owned streets, it does not need to provide handicapped parking spots. If it does own the lots, it must provide appropriate parking for patients with disabilities. If the facility rents from a landlord, the responsibility for providing accessible parking spots must be split between landlord and tenant.

Examination tables must be accessible for patients in wheelchairs. It is critical to note that examining a wheelchair-bound patient in their chair is not an acceptable substitute for a table exam. It is recommended to have an examination table that will lower down to a height of no more than approximately 17 inches from the floor so wheelchair-bound patients may safely hoist themselves to the examining table either with or without assistance.

Also, it is the responsibility of the medical practice to ensure this table is available when the patient arrives so the patient is not subject to excessive wait times. Forcing disabled patients to wait a disproportionately long time for an accessible table is not ensuring equal access to care.

Ensuring accessibility to restrooms is another must for medical facilities. In addition to doorways that are wide enough to fit a wheelchair, medical facilities are also required to avoid patient embarrassment by installing handicap-accessible bathroom features.

The required bathroom modifications include having handrails for wheelchair-bound patients, as well as installing hardware no more than a legally specified number of inches from the floor. The bottom of all mirrors must be no higher than 40 inches off the ground, and soap and hand sanitizer dispensers must be no more than 44 inches from the floor to ensure all patients can reach the sanitary supplies they need to look and feel clean.

Accommodations That Go Beyond Obvious Physical Modifications

As the medical world changes, practitioners must also adapt. This has huge ramifications for medical professionals, as they must strive to make not only their physical office but also their virtual presence accessible for those with disabilities.

Under the ACA, medical provider websites must comply with WCAG guidelines. WGAC stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. As with physical accessibility, websites must comply with ADA standards. For example, individuals with visual impairments may find it impossible to see links that are highlighted only in blue with no underlines. Likewise, those with various impairments may not be able to click on images in order to access records or view available appointment times.

Failure to comply with WCAG guidelines can land a medical practice in legal hot water. For example, Tenet Healthcare, which operates three hospitals, is in court over ADA compliance. Because its website was incompatible with the popular screen reading technology used by visually impaired patients, Tenet may find itself straddled with hefty fines and court fees. While Tenet is a major provider that can likely afford to absorb the costs of a lawsuit, smaller family medical practices may not be so lucky should they fall out of compliance.

To avoid potential liability, it is recommended that medical practices hire reputable web design companies with considerable experience in ADA requirements. Minor details that may be overlooked by smaller web design firms can lead to serious legal and financial consequences for medical practitioners. As the adage goes, having an ADA-compliant website is definitely an area in which an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Just because medical practitioners deal with the disabled on a regular basis doesn’t mean they have the time or requisite construction or technological knowledge to keep their practice ADA-compliant. In order to avoid liability and to maximize patient care experience, taking care in hiring the right contractors and web design agents can make or break a medical practice’s long-term success

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Kara Reynolds
Follow:
Kara Reynolds is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Momish Magazine, an inclusive parenting magazine filled with parenting hacks, advice, and more to keep your beautiful family thriving. As a mom and stepmom, Kara hopes to normalize blended families and wants her readers to know that every family is beautiful and messy just how they are. When she's not writing, Kara enjoys pilates and likes a little coffee with her cream. Find more from Kara on Twitter @MomishMagazine.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
Mental Health
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

A More Realistic Perspective on a Career in Medicine

October 11, 2014
Health careWellness

How Your Job Can Impact Your Health

December 11, 2018

What Steps Can Doctors Take to Boost Patient Loyalty?

February 24, 2016

Helping Patients Pay Their Hospital Bills [VIDEO INTERVIEW]

October 6, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?