Everyone deserves access to quality health care, regardless of their physical abilities. Health-care facilities must create an environment that’s welcoming to individuals with disabilities and promotes diversity. If this is a goal of yours, we provide five ways to make your health facility disability friendly. From simple changes to more extensive modifications, these tips will ensure that every patient feels comfortable and cared for.
Train Staff on Disability Awareness
One of the easiest ways to improve care at your facility is to train your staff in disability awareness. Staff members should have a basic understanding of different disabilities and be able to communicate with and assist patients with disabilities. Consider providing ongoing training for your staff to ensure that they are up-to-date on best practices. This will create a more welcoming environment for patients with disabilities, making them feel valued and respected.
Provide Accessible Infrastructure
When designing or renovating your facility, consider how accessible the infrastructure is to ensure that the space works for everyone. This could include wheelchair ramps, grab bars in restrooms, and wider entrances and hallways. Make sure that signage and directions are easy to understand and visible, with options for Braille and large print. Providing accessibility features in your facility is essential to ensure that patients with disabilities can easily and independently navigate the space.
Hire Staff for Specialized Care Needs
Patients with disabilities may have specific medical needs that require specialized care. Ensure that you have staff who can provide care for these specialized needs, such as sign language interpretation or assistance for patients with mobility issues. If you don’t have staff with these abilities, hire more staff. Having staff available to accommodate disability-specific needs will ensure that all patients receive the care they need.
Provide Alternative Communication Options
Some patients with disabilities may need alternative forms of communication due to speech or hearing impairments. Consider providing options such as text messaging or video calls to ensure that patients can communicate effectively with health-care providers. Providing alternative communication options will make patients with disabilities feel more comfortable and provide clearer communication between staff and patients.
Provide Wheelchairs
Providing wheelchairs and other assistive devices is an essential way to make your health facility more comfortable and welcoming for patients with mobility impairments. Wheelchairs are one of the top medical devices you need for your facility. You should have them easily accessible in waiting areas and exam rooms, and staff should know how to assist patients with mobility issues. By providing wheelchairs and other assistive devices, you can make sure that every patient is able to navigate your facility easily.
There are many ways to make your health facility disability friendly and contribute to an inclusive environment. While our magazine mostly focuses on inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community, inclusivity is important for all communities, including for people with disabilities. Many members of our community also have disabilities, and we never want to exclude part of their identity. Health facilities and other public places should always accommodate the needs of the communities they serve.