Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities

Scales

A patient’s weight is essential medical information used for diagnostics and treatment. Too often, individuals who use wheelchairs are not weighed at the doctor’s office or hospital, even though patients without disabilities are routinely weighed, because the provider does not have a scale that can accommodate a wheelchair. Medical providers should have an accessible scale with a platform large enough to fit a wheelchair, and with a high weight capacity for weighing an individual while seated in his or her wheelchair. Other options may include a scale integrated into a patient lift, hospital bed, or exam table.

Accessible Scale

1.Sloped surface provides access to scale platform -- no abrupt level changes at floor or platform.

2.Edge protection at drop off.

3.Large platform to accommodates various wheelchair sizes.

4.Provide maneuvering space to pull onto and off scale.

The previous information provides guidance on the ADA’s requirement to provide accessible health care to individuals with mobility disabilities as well as illustrated examples of accessible medical equipment, room and office configurations, and lifting and transfer equipment and techniques. This guidance, when applied and adapted to the specific needs and circumstances of individual health care providers, can help ensure that people with mobility disabilities have an equal opportunity to receive accessible health care services.