Urbana, Ill. – Carle Foundation Hospital and Carle Physician Group today announced a plan to improve healthcare accessibility for persons with disabilities. The plan is the result of input from members of the local disability community with the assistance of Robbins, Salomon and Patt, Ltd., and Equip for Equality.
Improvements include adding more accessible rooms and accessible medical equipment including scales and lifts that accommodate wheelchair users, developing policies and procedures regarding accessibility issues affecting persons across all types of disabilities, staff training, customizing Carle’s electronic medical records system to address patient accessibility needs and preferences, improving communication access for deaf and hard of hearing individuals and by providing written materials in alternative formats for persons with visual impairments, and a commitment to improve Carle’s website accessibility.
“The development of this plan is consistent with Carle’s goal to continually strive to improve the patient experience and the changes being made will markedly improve service for the disabled community,” said Elizabeth Angelo, MSN, RN-BC, CPHQ, Carle’s system vice president of Quality.
“We commend Carle for its commitment to enhance the accessibility of its services for patients with disabilities,” said Andrés. J. Gallegos, Esq., a disability rights attorney with the Chicago law firm of Robbins, Salomon and Patt, Ltd.
“Accessible healthcare is a prerequisite to persons with disabilities’ ability to live and to fully participate in all aspects of their lives. Carle’s plan recognizes the critical importance of equal access to healthcare for all,” said Amy F. Peterson, Senior Attorney at Equip for Equality, the Governor-designated protection and advocacy system for safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities in Illinois.
About Carle
Carle is a health system with three hospitals and several clinics located primarily in east central Illinois. To learn more, visit carle.org.
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Categories: Staying Healthy
Tags: Carle, healthcare, accessibility, ADA