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Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

healthaffairs.org

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Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#2
Could the ADA itself be the cause of at least some of this hesitation by some doctors to want to deal with disabled patients?

With a disabled patient, there's a larger chance that something about your medical practice (the parking lot, the hallway, the stairs and ramps, the chairs in the waiting room, the equipment in your office, etc) aren't going to satisfy somebody and you're faced with a dumb legal headache even though you might have been genuinely trying to satisfy everybody and would be willing to provide reasonable accommodation.

Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#3

Could the ADA itself be the cause of at least some of this hesitation by some doctors to want to deal with disabled patients? With a disabled patient, there's a larger chance that something about your medical practice (the parking lot, the hallway, the stairs and ramps, the chairs in the waiting room, the equipment in your office, etc) aren't going to satisfy somebody and you're faced with a dumb legal headache even…

I just assumed that ADA requirements made their way into commercial building codes a while ago. And because of that, physicians would rarely bump into that issue, whether leasing office space or building new space.

Am I mistaken?

Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#4

Could the ADA itself be the cause of at least some of this hesitation by some doctors to want to deal with disabled patients? With a disabled patient, there's a larger chance that something about your medical practice (the parking lot, the hallway, the stairs and ramps, the chairs in the waiting room, the equipment in your office, etc) aren't going to satisfy somebody and you're faced with a dumb legal headache even…

This is covered in the article, and yes. Specifically:

> Physicians reported feeling overwhelmed by the demands of practicing medicine in general and the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 specifically; in particular, they felt that they were inadequately reimbursed for accommodations.

Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#5

Could the ADA itself be the cause of at least some of this hesitation by some doctors to want to deal with disabled patients? With a disabled patient, there's a larger chance that something about your medical practice (the parking lot, the hallway, the stairs and ramps, the chairs in the waiting room, the equipment in your office, etc) aren't going to satisfy somebody and you're faced with a dumb legal headache even…

I just assumed that ADA requirements made their way into commercial building codes a while ago. And because of that, physicians would rarely bump into that issue, whether leasing office space or building new space. Am I mistaken?

I believe that you are correct.

The doctor's office, as a business, already needs to abide by the ADA. It could be a convenience store, and still have the same requirements.

Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#6

Could the ADA itself be the cause of at least some of this hesitation by some doctors to want to deal with disabled patients? With a disabled patient, there's a larger chance that something about your medical practice (the parking lot, the hallway, the stairs and ramps, the chairs in the waiting room, the equipment in your office, etc) aren't going to satisfy somebody and you're faced with a dumb legal headache even…

It probably is but it's important to remember that without ADA this would be much worse. It's not like physicians were so great with people with disabilities before 1990.

Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#8
From the synopsis:

> Physicians reported feeling overwhelmed by the demands of practicing medicine in general and the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 specifically; in particular, they felt that they were inadequately reimbursed for accommodations.

In the U.S., primary care is becoming more and more industrialized, with patients limited to very short visits. Patients hate this because they have real medical issues that need addressing; Physicians hate this because they want to help their patients solve their medical issues. This industrialization is particularly detrimental to anyone with chronic health concerns, anything that requires attention and thought.

Edit: Counterintuitively, the industrialization really has the potential to provide cheaper, better health outcomes for everyone. Unfortunately, it seems like “we’re not there yet” with what is possible with current tech, similar to self-driving cars.

Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#9
A lot of modern medicine is factory work, there is no time or interest for the patient. It's the same reason people with symptoms that aren't immediately obvious get diagnosed with anxiety.

It can be life-destroying when it's systemic, a lot of disabled people find that when they age out of pediatric care no one will touch them, not doctors, not physiotherapists, nobody.

Re: Physicians’ attitudes about caring for people with disabilities

#10
post #7

Quoted post unavailable.

I have a lot of experience with doctors. I've found regardless of what you look like unless you're going to a concierge clinic you wont even get the time of day from most of them. It seems to be a volume business, and thus they just go through the motions. Much like tech with engineers, the good doctors seem to leave as soon as you find them.
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