Table 3.

Access Barriers Encountered by Women with Mobility Impairments and Examples of Potential Solutions

Concern	Potential Recommendation
Inaccessible Equipment
Inaccessible mammography equipment	Install accessible mammography equipment: machines that lower to wheelchair height or machines that accommodate special chairs for positioning
Inaccessible examining table	Install accessible examining table or equipment (e.g., Hoyer lift) to transfer patients onto examining table
Inaccessible radiation therapy equipment	Install accessible radiation therapy equipment or device (e.g., Hoyer lift) to transfer patients
Inaccessible weight scale	Install accessible weight scale or other equipment for weighing persons (e.g., Hoyer lift that measures weight)
Other Access Difficulties
Difficulty positioning while standing	Eliminate need to stand by using specially designed mammography chairs
Difficulty positioning while lying down	Work with patient to ensure comfortable and appropriate positioning (e.g., put foam cushion under knees, use Velcro® straps to position arms)
Uncontrollable movements	Involve second mammography technician to assist in holding patient in position
Inaccessible office doors	Install automatic door openers on interior doors used frequently by patients
Policies and Procedures
Facility has accessible equipment but it is not available when patient comes for appointment	Implement scheduling policies that ensure persons who need accessible equipment have priority use of that equipment; develop ways of identifying patients with accessibility needs
Restroom policies	Ensure that women with bladder management problems are positioned as close as possible to restrooms during long outpatient visits (e.g., chemotherapy sessions)
Staff injuries while transferring patients; days lost from work because of workplace injuries	Install equipment to assist in transferring patients; if not possible, train staff in safe transfer procedures and in working with patients to ensure safe transfers
Unanticipated and unsafe events occur while staff is not in room	Avoid leaving patient unattended or ensure emergency call button is both accessible and readily available