It is Important that all office staff, not only healthcare providers, receive training on communicating with people of diverse backgrounds, including people with ID:
Training and resources on skillful communication with people with ID:
Skillful communication, taking the client’s needs into account, is an important aspect of providing full access to services for people with ID. Helpful resources are available in Module 2 of this training in Communication Skills Scenario 1- Communication skills for working with people with ID in the context of health care and wellness encounters (https://iddhealthtraining.org/module-2/scenario-1/).
The Nisonger Center UCEDD at The Ohio State University provides on-line training for health professions trainees and health professionals to provide quality healthcare for people with ID (Healthcare Access for Persons with Disabilities). This training is available at: http://nisonger.osu.edu/education-training/ohio-disability-health-program/disability-healthcare-training/
A guide developed by the North Carolina Office on Disability and Health, “Removing Barriers: Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible communication,” includes debunking of disability myths to inform a respectful approach to working with people with disabilities; strategies for in-person, print, and on-line communication with people with disabilities; and approaches to working with people with disabilities. It is available at https://fpg.unc.edu/sites/fpg.unc.edu/files/resources/other-resources/NCODH_PromoteAccessibleCommunication.pdf
Case Continuation
The medical assistant leads her directly into an exam room and completes the intake there. As the intake proceeds, Ms. Schaeffer realizes that the exam table in the room is not going to work for her. She is able to walk short distances and can assist with transferring from the wheelchair to the exam table, but this requires an accessible exam table that can be lowered. She realizes that she had forgotten to check before making the appointment about whether accessible exam tables were available. She asks now and is assured that there is an accessible table in one of the other rooms and that the room should be available in about 20 minutes.
Question 2.3
Could the NP just decide to examine Ms. Schaeffer in her wheelchair instead of waiting for the room with the accessible table? Or, if Ms. Schaeffer had told the practice in advance of the visit that she uses a wheelchair, could the practice have advised her that she should seek another practice?