Equal Access, Exceptional Care: How We Support Patients with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark civil rights law signed into effect July 26, 1990. Its primary goal is to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, access to public spaces and health care.

For health care professionals, the ADA is both a legal obligation and a moral imperative –ensuring that patients with disabilities receive equitable, respectful and accessible care. This includes accessible facilities and medical equipment, alternative formats for communication, and policies that support inclusion. The ADA also reinforces the importance of effective communication – requiring, for example, the use of qualified interpreters, captioning or visual aids when needed.

In my work as Chief Compliance Officer, I'm tasked with ensuring that our staff members meet the needs of our patients with physical disabilities while, at the same time, protecting themselves from injury when providing care. EvergreenHealth has invested in training and resources to prepare our staff to provide care for patients with accommodation needs while avoiding on-the-job injury to themselves.

At EvergreenHealth, our policies reflect our organizational mission, vision and values to assist our staff in meeting the regulatory requirements. With the new Notice and Training Requirements of Section 1557 of the Accountable Care Act, EvergreenHealth has reviewed and updated its ADA policies and program. This fundamental groundwork assists our employees in completing their day-to-day work and providing exceptional care for patients with diverse needs.

I've had several opportunities to communicate with patients who have disabilities or who need language assistance – to better understand how receiving effective health care can be difficult without the right assistance. It's important that we do not assume what kind of assistance patients need – but rather ask them to tell us what they need when receiving care here.

I have learned a lot in my new responsibilities as the ADA Compliance Officer. Patients with disabilities and language assistance needs have a right to expect the same level of care that others receive. At EvergreenHealth, it's our promise and privilege to create an environment that allows people to thrive and benefit from our care.

Since its passage, the ADA has transformed the landscape of American life, opening doors to education, jobs and community life that were once out of reach, helping foster a more inclusive and equitable nation.