Accessibility Consulting Services for Medical Care Facilities Access survey and report Hospitals and clinics must comply with the scoping and technical requirements of the 1991 Standards. A medical care facility is required to provide "full and equal enjoyment" of its goods and services to people with disabilities. A facility can choose to voluntarily comply with federal accessibility law. We perform an efficient survey of the property, typically over the course of one day. We look at places open to and used by the public, not, for example, employee spaces such as labs and kitchens. We then prepare a report that identifies each barrier to access, provides reference standards, recommends alternate methods of barrier mitigation and offers a preliminary budget cost estimate. The report is provided as a spreadsheet that can be used as the basis of a compliance plan. ADA compliance plan At your request, we will help hospital management to develop a plan to remove barriers to access. An effective compliance plan will include design requirements, budget costs, priorities and a timetable. Some barriers can be eliminated immediately and at no cost; others may require a simple change in policy. Significant barriers can trigger major alterations. Having a compliance plan in place shows good-faith, and elimination of barriers is the surest way to minimize exposure to litigation. Defense expert in an ADA lawsuit We provide expert witness services for a hospital sued under federal civil rights law with regard to accessibility. We prepare an access survey report for the defense, addressing each allegation. We work with management and their attorneys to keep the matter in a settlement conference instead of a courtroom. We identify the minimum requirements of enforceable federal statute, and recommend the least costly methods of achieving compliance. We stand by the defendant through the settlement process, and guard against frivolous and unfounded demands. Accessibility review of architectural plans For a new hospital or for renovations to an existing one, we provide a plan review for your architects at each phase of project development, to ensure that the finished facility will be fully compliant with the requirements of state and federal accessibility law. It is much less stressful to identify problems early and on paper, rather than tear out non-compliant construction in the field. We also provide site inspections at key points during the construction process to verify that things are being built as designed. A complete project list is provided in the Curriculum Vitae. Contact