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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

ADA Upgrade Overview

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What is ADA?

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (P.L. 101-336) is the most comprehensive civil rights legislation adopted to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. It extends civil rights protections to individuals with physical or mental disabilities in the following areas:

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Population being served

An individual is considered to have a "disability" if he/she has a physical or mental impairment such as; seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing freely, and performing manual tasks, that substantially limits one or more major life activities

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Settlement Agreement Parameters

• Duration: October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2015

• Expected expenditures: $8,500,000

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Requirements

• Designate and Train Compliance Officer and 2 Assistants

• Update BIDMC Web page to provide Accessibility Information

• Complete Access Audit of All BIDMC Facilities

• Install Directional Signage to Nearest Accessible Entrance and Bathroom

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Requirements Continued

• Complete Database of Accessible Medical Equipment

• Insure One Accessible Exam Table in each Clinical Service Area

• Provide Accessible Entrances and Exterior Routes

• Provide Additional Accessible Parking

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Requirements Continued

• Provide Hi-Top Van Accessible Parking

• Form Universal Access Patient Advisory Council

• Submit Annual Report

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Changes to BIDMC Facilities Dept. A New Way of Business

• Design Review of All Projects for ADA Compliance

• Training for Project Management Team and in the future to other departments within the Medical Center

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DOJ requires update to BIDMC website

Public Transportation and links related to the methods of getting to BIDMC

• City transportation maps       

• Locations of accessible entrances

• Accessible shuttles available between campuses

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DOJ requires update to BIDMC website Continued

• Accessible public gathering locations internal to the buildings (i.e. cafeterias, restrooms)

• Locations of TTY / TTD facilities

• Location of the Sorenson Video Systems for the Deaf and Hearing impaired

• Campus maps

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Access Audit of all BIDMC Facilities

• BIDMC hired the nationally recognized expert firm, Kessler McGuinness & Associates, LLC

• Complete survey of the 23 on-campus facilities as well as 3 suburban clinics

• BIDMC has created an ADA Access Plan for all 26 buildings that were audited

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Implementation of ADA Access Plan

• Accessible Entrances and Exterior Routes

• Additional Accessible / Van Accessible Parking

• Installed Handrails on Interior Ramps

• Install Directional Signage to accessible toilet rooms and routes

• Hire Architects to assist in renovation designs to meet ADA Guidelines

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Chelsea Main Entrance

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Accessible Entrance Lexington Facility

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Parking Garage

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Parking Garage Interior Signage

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Parking Garage Accessible Parking

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PROACTIVE ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS

• Installed a Video Phone

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Create a BIDMC Access Advisory Group

• PurposeTo better understand the impacts of accessibility issues on our patients, patient families, visitors and employees

• Mission Statement “To advise and support the medical center in providing a welcoming, accessible, and comfortable environment for individuals with disabilities and other access challenges”

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Advisory Group Recommendations

• Purchase of motorized chair for consumer/patient use

• Increased use of ‘vibrating flashers’ to alert Deaf/hard of hearing consumer/patients when their appointment is being called

• Disability etiquette training program for BIDMC staff

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Advisory Group Recommendations

• “Reservation System” to assure appropriate use of accessible exam rooms

• Purchasing scales that can be used by people in wheelchairs – at least 1/clinic (like accessible exam tables)

• Engaging Champions of Change for disability issues –esp. ‘mystery shopping’

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Accessible Exam Rooms

• To date more than 86 accessible tables have been purchased and deployed bringing current total to 106. (slightly over 20% of total inventory)

• BIDMC has added the International Symbol of Access outside each accessible exam room to increase awareness on the part of doctors, staff, and patients about the availability of this equipment.

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Accessible Exam Room counters and supplies

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Tables and Seating

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Dining SurfacesDining Tables and Surfaces

Clear Floor Space• 30” x 48” clear floor space minimum.

• Clear floor space may extend under the table 19” maximum.

Knee Space• 30” wide x 27” high x 19” deep must be

clear of any obstructions.

Table Height• Height of table surface must be 28” -

34” high.

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27”

min

28”

- 34

”

19” max

48”min

3230

” m

in

19” max

48” min

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Items located on countertop

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At desks with lower transaction counters – make sure they are clear of obstructions

• Yes

• No

Signage

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In bathrooms labeled as handicap accessible – make sure there are no added

items to reduce open floor space

• Yes

• No

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Keep hallway obstructions to a minimum

• Yes

• No

> 27”<

27”<

27”>

27”< 27”

FLOOR BARRIER

OVERSIZED BRACKET OR BUILD-OUT

LOWERED OBJECT

Wall-Mounted ObjectsCane-Detectable Barriers

Floor Barrier• Place a barrier on the floor below the

protruding object. • This may be a guard rail, wall protrusion or

any other fixed object.• Barrier must be the same depth as the

protruding object.

Oversized Bracket or Build-out• Place a barrier with its leading edge below

27” AFF underneath the protruding object.• This may be a large bracket, wall protrusion

or apron. • Barrier must be the same depth as the

protruding object.

Lowered Object• Mount objects with their leading edge below

27” AFF.

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What can you do to become more compliant?

• Keep the accessible counters at registration desks free from clutter

• Make sure all paths of travel are clear including hallways, exam rooms and bathrooms

• Refrain from hanging wall mounted objects that protrude more than 4” into a path of travel

• Think ADA!!!