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 |