Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

5.3.2 Transfer Sides Recommendations for M301

Description: The transfer side provision requires the transfer surface to be located to provide options to transfer onto the short side and the long side of the surface. The provisions result in the transfer surface being located at a corner of the equipment and the two transfer sides adjoining at the edges of the equipment (e.g., foot of an examination table). Patients who use mobility devices would have the choice to approach parallel to the deep dimension of the transfer surface, parallel to the wide dimension of the transfer surface, or at an angle to the corner of the transfer surface and be able to perform a variety of transfers. Locating the transfer surface at a corner of the equipment and providing unobstructed access to the two transfer sides also would facilitate assisted transfers.

NPRM Proposed Provision: M301.2.3 Transfer Sides. The transfer surface shall be located to provide options to transfer from a mobility device onto one short side (depth) and one long side (width) of the surface. Each transfer side shall provide unobstructed access to the transfer surface.

5.3.2.1 Transfer Sides Recommendation for Stretchers

On stretchers, the transfer surface is oriented along the long dimension of the surface on which patients are in the supine, prone, or side-lying position (see Figure 5.4.1.1).

For stretchers, the Committee recommends the transfer surface be located to provide the ability to transfer from a mobility device onto both long sides of the surface.

Rationale for the recommendation

This recommendation recognizes the configuration and use of stretchers. The configuration of stretchers typically does not allow access to a transfer surface on either end. As a result, with current stretcher design, a patient will access the long side of the transfer surface and the short side will be inaccessible. The location of the transfer side is on the patient right or left roughly midway between the two ends (head and foot). This transfer location places the patient at a desirable location along the length of the stretcher side so that when the transfer is complete, the patient is in the proper location as the backrest articulates.

5.3.2.2 Transfer Sides Recommendation for Imaging Equipment

On imaging equipment, the transfer surface is oriented along the long dimension of the surface on which patients are in the supine, prone, or side-lying position (see Figure 5.2.1.4).

The Committee recommends that imaging equipment provide transfer surfaces on at least one long side of the table.

Rationale for the recommendation

Patients access diagnostic imaging equipment from one of the long sides of the table. Patients would not transfer onto imaging tables from the head or foot end because the patient would need to scoot,” slide, or twist a long distance to get into the proper position for the exam, a difficult if not impossible feat. Recognizing this, imaging equipment provides the transfer surfaces on the short sides of the table. The Committee members recognized the option of transferring from either of the long sides of the equipment is optimum.
Imaging manufacturers noted that many X-ray system tables and all DXA tables with today’s technology have part of the imaging equipment support located on one of the long sides and all patient transfers happen on the opposite side. Many X-ray systems and all DXA systems as currently installed have equipment obstructions on one of the long sides. Industry agreed the best solution is to have transfer access where feasible within the medical equipment design on both long sides.