Accessibility of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Patients With Disability: Observations From Physicians.
Nicole Agaronnik, Eric G Campbell, Julie Ressalam and 1 others
PMID 30922882WHAT IT FOUND
Physicians said exam tables, scales, and lifts were often inaccessible, so they examined patients in wheelchairs and relied on self-reported weights.
Cost, space, and poor reimbursement were barriers, even when some practices had accessible tables.
Key findings
01Eight physicians often examined patients in their wheelchairs, despite having accessible equipment.
02Only 3 participants reported assistive lifts or transfer devices, and Four participants described staff injury during transfers without a device.
03Cost was cited by 11 participants, lack of space by 14, and inadequate compensation for extra time by Seven.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The findings come from a small sample of Massachusetts physicians and do not generalize to all physicians or health care providers. The study did not compare specialties or care settings. The interview protocol did not ask about the incremental benefit of accessible equipment for improving care. The counts of participants reporting themes are descriptive, not generalizable.
Declared interests
The paper is tagged as supported by NIH and non-U.S. government research; no author conflict declaration is given.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these interviews as evidence that accessible equipment changes patient care or that all physicians behave this way. The study sampled a small group of Massachusetts physicians and did not compare specialties or care settings.