Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current
    • Published Ahead of Print
    • Archive
    • Supplemental Issues
    • Collections - French
    • Collections - English
  • Info for
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Advertisers
    • Careers & Locums
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
  • About CFP
    • About CFP
    • About the CFPC
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
  • Feedback
    • Feedback
    • Rapid Responses
    • Most Read
    • Most Cited
    • Email Alerts
  • Blogs
    • Latest Blogs
    • Blog Guidelines
    • Directives pour les blogues
  • Mainpro+ Credits
    • About Mainpro+
    • Member Login
    • Instructions
  • Other Publications
    • http://www.cfpc.ca/Canadianfamilyphysician/
    • https://www.cfpc.ca/Login/
    • Careers and Locums

User menu

  • My alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • Other Publications
    • http://www.cfpc.ca/Canadianfamilyphysician/
    • https://www.cfpc.ca/Login/
    • Careers and Locums
  • My alerts
The College of Family Physicians of Canada

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current
    • Published Ahead of Print
    • Archive
    • Supplemental Issues
    • Collections - French
    • Collections - English
  • Info for
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Advertisers
    • Careers & Locums
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
  • About CFP
    • About CFP
    • About the CFPC
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
  • Feedback
    • Feedback
    • Rapid Responses
    • Most Read
    • Most Cited
    • Email Alerts
  • Blogs
    • Latest Blogs
    • Blog Guidelines
    • Directives pour les blogues
  • Mainpro+ Credits
    • About Mainpro+
    • Member Login
    • Instructions
  • RSS feeds
  • Follow cfp Template on Twitter
Research ArticlePractice

Making your office accessible for patients with mobility impairments

Sarah Pritchard, James Milligan and Joseph Lee
Canadian Family Physician March 2014, 60 (3) 253-254;
Sarah Pritchard
Occupational therapist at the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team in Kitchener, Ont.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
James Milligan
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Joseph Lee
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • eLetters
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Patients with mobility impairments often face challenges in visiting their family physicians owing to the physical barriers within medical buildings and offices, including the lack of ramps, grab bars, height-adjustable examination and imaging tables, and inadequate space within which to maneuver a wheelchair or to transfer to an examination table.1,2

In order to enhance access to primary care and improve health outcomes for persons with mobility impairments, the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team in Kitchener, Ont, has developed a Mobility Clinic. The physical environment of this clinic supports access to primary care for those with mobility impairments by providing adequate space to accommodate use of wheelchairs, access to parking, a wheelchair scale, and an accessible examination room that includes a ceiling lift and height-adjustable examination table (Figure 1). The resources in this clinic have enabled patients with conditions such as spinal cord injuries and severe neurologic impairments to receive regular primary care such as Papanicolaou tests and general examinations that they would otherwise have difficulty accessing.

Figure 1.
  • Download figure
  • Open in new tab
Figure 1.

Height-adjustable examination table and overhead lift

Accessibility considerations

Accessibility standards are captured by the 2005 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and similar provincial legislation across the country; however, in general, there are few resources available within medical offices that are specifically focused on accessibility.3–5 If you are building, leasing, or renovating space for your medical practice, here are some accessibility factors you might want to consider. Table 1 provides sample costs for some of the discussed equipment.

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
Table 1.

Approximate costs of equipment

Parking

Buildings are required by law to have designated parking spots located close to the building entrance for use by persons with disabilities. These spaces, as well as parking metres or pay stations, must be accessible to wheelchair users. Curb cutouts should also be present to allow for access from the parking lot to the building.

Entrance

A ramp with railings or an elevating lift is required when a main building entrance is not at ground level. Doors to enter the building and office should be equipped with automatic door openers, and the width should be adequate to accommodate a wheelchair or scooter (approximately 37.5 inches).

Way-finding signs

Clear and simple signs should be present to indicate the address, location of the office, room numbers, and the location of elevators, washrooms, and emergency exits. Signs should use contrasting colours, graphics, and Braille where possible.

Waiting room and reception area

Space should be available for wheelchair users to park while waiting for their appointments. Firm chairs with armrests will help those who have difficulty with switching from sitting to standing positions. Reception windows should be height appropriate for wheelchair users (approximately 34 to 40 inches from the ground) and incorporate a counter surface that allows wheelchair users to complete required forms.

Examination room

Examination rooms require adequate door width, as well as clear floor space, and should be large enough for a wheelchair to maneuver in and to accommodate transfers to the examination table. To facilitate transfers, the examination table should be one that is height adjustable and can be lowered to the height of a wheelchair seat (approximately 17 to 19 inches from the ground). Along the wall by the examination table, there should be a railing or strap to support patients while moving on the table. For persons who are unable to transfer independently, a mechanical lift should be available; staff training on safe and appropriate use of the equipment is required. Consider portable examination equipment such as an ophthalmoscope, otoscope, thermometer, and blood pressure cuff.

Washroom

Medical offices should include accessible washrooms and appropriate signs to indicate their location. Accessible washroom facilities include sufficient space for turning and transferring, grab bars, and emergency call bells. Sinks, mirrors, and soap and paper towel dispensers should all be at a wheelchair-accessible height.

Staff training and appointment times

Staff knowledge of the patient population and specific patient needs helps improve access to high-quality care. Reception staff should be aware of patients who require extra time for appointments and schedule accordingly. Developing a method of tracking or documenting patients’ special needs—such as hearing, visual, speech, or mobility impairments, transfer methods, and other special needs—will help prepare clinic staff.

Conclusion

Although there are sometimes limitations to structural changes that can be made given the existing physical environment, leaseholder agreements, or financial constraints, simple strategies such as installing grab bars, ensuring appropriate waiting room space and chairs, and informing staff of patient needs can help improve accessibility. Many of the guidelines presented here have implications not only for those with mobility impairments, but also for seniors and families with young children.

Acknowledgments

The Mobility Clinic project receives funding from the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.

Notes

We encourage readers to share some of their practice experience: the neat little tricks that solve difficult clinical situations. Praxis articles can be submitted online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/cfp or through the CFP website (www.cfp.ca) under “Authors and Reviewers.”

Footnotes

  • This article is eligible for Mainpro-M1 credits.

    To earn credits, go to www.cfp.ca and click on the Mainpro link.

  • La traduction en français de cet article se trouve à www.cfp.ca la table des matières du numéro de mars 2014 à la page e164.

  • Competing interests

    None declared

  • Copyright© the College of Family Physicians of Canada

References

  1. 1.↵
    1. Guilcher SJ,
    2. Munce SE,
    3. Couris CM,
    4. Fung K,
    5. Craven BC,
    6. Verrier M,
    7. et al
    . Health care utilization in non-traumatic and traumatic spinal cord injury: a population-based study. Spinal Cord 2010;48(1):45-50. Epub 2009 Jun 23.
    OpenUrlPubMed
  2. 2.↵
    1. Hwang K,
    2. Johnston M,
    3. Tulsky D,
    4. Wood K,
    5. Dyson-Hudson T,
    6. Komaroff E
    . Access and coordination of health care service for people with disabilities. J Disabil Policy Stud 2009;20(1):28-34.
    OpenUrl
  3. 3.↵
    1. Service Ontario [website]
    . Accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities act, 2005. Toronto, ON: Service Ontario; 2005. Available from: www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_05a11_e.htm. Accessed 2014 Jan 23.
  4. 4.
    1. Jones KE,
    2. Tamair IE
    . Making our offices universally accessible: guidelines for physicians. CMAJ 1997;156(5):647-56.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  5. 5.↵
    1. The City of London
    . 2007 Facility accessibility design standards. London, ON: The City of London; 2007. Available from: www.london.ca/city-hall/accessibility/Documents/FADS_2007_final.pdf. Accessed 2014 Jan 23.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Canadian Family Physician: 60 (3)
Canadian Family Physician
Vol. 60, Issue 3
1 Mar 2014
  • Table of Contents
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on The College of Family Physicians of Canada.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Making your office accessible for patients with mobility impairments
(Your Name) has sent you a message from The College of Family Physicians of Canada
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the The College of Family Physicians of Canada web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Making your office accessible for patients with mobility impairments
Sarah Pritchard, James Milligan, Joseph Lee
Canadian Family Physician Mar 2014, 60 (3) 253-254;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Respond to this article
Share
Making your office accessible for patients with mobility impairments
Sarah Pritchard, James Milligan, Joseph Lee
Canadian Family Physician Mar 2014, 60 (3) 253-254;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Accessibility considerations
    • Conclusion
    • Acknowledgments
    • Notes
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • eLetters
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Rendre votre cabinet accessible aux patients à mobilité réduite
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Doing the right thing for our patients with disabilities
  • Appui au developpement professionnel continu
  • Supporting continuing professional development
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

Practice

  • Determining if and how older patients can safely stay at home with additional services
  • Managing type 2 diabetes in primary care during COVID-19
  • Effectiveness of dermoscopy in skin cancer diagnosis
Show more Practice

Praxis

  • Does a negative d-dimer test result rule out deep-vein thrombosis?
  • Rapid recommendations
  • Rapid recommendations
Show more Praxis

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Archive
  • Collections - English
  • Collections - Française

For Authors

  • Authors and Reviewers
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Permissions
  • Terms of Use

General Information

  • About CFP
  • About the CFPC
  • Advertisers
  • Careers & Locums
  • Editorial Advisory Board
  • Subscribers

Journal Services

  • Email Alerts
  • Twitter
  • RSS Feeds

Copyright © 2022 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada

Powered by HighWire