Key Question:

How do policies regarding medical instrumentation impact healthcare utilization by and employment of persons with disabilities in the healthcare professions?

Motivation: 

Medical facility policies may prevent healthcare utilization by not addressing the needs of patients with disabilities and activity limitations (including not complying with the ADA).  Medical facility policies may prevent employment of individuals with disabilities and activity limitations in the healthcare professions, by not addressing the need to hire such persons or relocate them when they return to work after an injury.  Federal and state policies regarding medical instrumentation may prevent healthcare utilization by limiting payment for durable medical and home health equipment and not providing proper guidance to industry regarding making medical environments accessible to people with disabilities or activity limitations.

Project R.4.1 / Healthcare Facility Administrator Interviews.

This project will conduct interviews with clinic directors and hospital administrators, including human resources professionals and procurement officials, regarding instrumentation-related healthcare facility policy and procedures.  It will also conduct interviews with medical educators from a range of medical educational institutions regarding selection of and training on medical instrumentation. Special attention will be paid to identification of barriers to optimal healthcare delivery to and employment of individuals with disabilities within the healthcare field.

Project R4.2 / Legislative Policymaker Interviews.

This project will conduct interviews with public policymakers at the federal and state levels regarding standards for design and procurement of medical instrumentation that hinder delivery of healthcare services and employment within in the healthcare field of individuals with disabilities, and about enforcement of existing federal and state legislation that addresses instrumentation.

Use of Results

Results of Research Program R4 will be used in Development Program D4 and in Dissemination Programs T1, T3, and T4.