Providing Dental Care
General Management Considerations
Office Accessibility and Accommodation
 Obviously,
physical accessibility to the dental office is necessary to provide dental
care to individuals with physical disabilities. Failure to provide access
such as wheelchair ramps could be considered discrimination.
Architectural design considerations include:
-
walkways, sidewalks and parking facilities
- entrance ramps, handrails, hallways and elevators
- door width and threshold height, door pressure or ease of opening,
-
adequate space around door to maneuver a wheelchair, and elevator accessibility
- floor surface, carpets, and rugs
- telephone facilities,
- drinking fountains
- restroom facilities
- reception room design, furniture style, and lighting
- operatory design to allow for wheelchair transfer or in-wheelchair
-
treatment
If you are remodeling, you must make the remodeled area readily accessible
to patients with disabilities, and if your are building a new office, then
the entire office design must comply with ADA requirements.
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