MDNews - Long Island

T OO OFTEN, DISABLED patients have poor experiences in hospitals and medical practices, renowned architect Michael Graves, FAIA, a wheelchair user, told MD News prior to his death in March 2015. He recalled being unable to reach an outlet to plug in his razor as a hospital patient, and being unable to see his face in the mirror when he tried to shave. Limitations on privacy and independence can also create serious health risks, as patients may avoid healthcare settings if they believe they will not receive equal treatment. For example, 31 percent of women surveyed in the National Study of Women with Physical Disabilities reported being denied medical care due to their disability. Often, poor accessibility, such as lack of appropriate examining tables or transfer devices, was cited as the cause. Graves' career as an architect and designer informed his perspec- tive when he became paraplegic. He made major contributions to the healthcare fi eld both in architecture and product design. Graves' approach to healthcare-related projects involved looking at design from the inside out. He documented daily nuisances as well as signifi cant safety concerns. A K E Y ACC ES S P O I N T Bathrooms play a key role in how patients experience the hospital setting. When patients are disabled, obese or temporarily impaired due to surgery, safety and ease of use are especially important. "The patient bathroom is one of the most vulnerable areas in a hospital," Ken Bowman, Director of Interior Design with Earl Swensson Associates, told Healthcare Design in 2014. "More patient falls occur when patients are trying to access the bathrooms." Location, layout and materials selection are especially important in making bathrooms accessible. While convenient for staff, bathrooms with inboard (vestibule near the bedroom door) design can limit wheelchair turning radius in and around the bathroom door. Layout is also important, with sliding doors four feet or more in width being especially user-friendly. Selection of sturdy materials and fl oor-mounted toilets makes bathrooms safer for bariatric patients, too. ATTENTION TO DETAIL CAN IMPROVE DISABLED PATIENTS' EXPERIENCE OF HEALTHCARE SETTINGS. The Promise of Products Careful attention to physical detail, however, can make a large difference in the ways people with disabilities access and experience health care. One of Graves' signature pieces, the Stryker Prime TC Transport Chair, receives widespread praise. The chair, stands and other creations of Michael Graves Design Group, in partnership with Stryker Medical, provide ease of use for patients and caregivers. Either patient or caregiver can easily manipulate the bedside stands and tables in the series. A permanent IV pole and oxygen tank holder on the Prime TC lessen the burden on staff members caring for patients, while foot-operated swing-away footrests reduce the need for the caregiver to bend down to move the rests out of the way. Graves' eye for nuance helped him make the "small" decisions that have a big effect on users. "From linear shower drains that permit curbless showers to kitchen counters that are height-adjustable," he said, "products can make all the difference." ■ A Nuanced Approach to Enhancing Access for the Disabled By Jennifer Webster ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ + +++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PRACTICE MANAGEMENT ❯ 3 0 | Long Island MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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