Who: FierceEMR.Com
What: Many providers implementing electronic health record systems and other e-tools may find themselves discriminating against the disabled in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to a new American Medical News article. Public facilities and private businesses of 15 employees or more must provide “reasonable accommodation” to disabled employees under the ADA, including any software or computer needs, according to amednews. However, many providers fail to include those accommodations–such as speech recognition, screen contrast and other technologies–with their EHRs, making it difficult, if not impossible, for such employees to access the EHR to perform their jobs.
Why: Providers, the article recommends, should bring the topic of accessibility up with vendors and conduct a self-audit to determine if they’re vulnerable to ADA challenges.