Digital accessibility in healthcare refers to the inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent people with disabilities from interacting with websites and apps. In practice, this means that websites, apps, and electronic documents must be designed or developed in a way that allows people with disabilities to access the content, websites, or apps using accessible technology.
Whereas this issue gained importance with the restrictions to physical meetings during the COVID-19 period, healthcare practitioners have been legally required to ensure that their digital products and services are accessible to people with disabilities since 1998, underpinned by the amendments to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Both Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require healthcare providers to provide full and equal access to their healthcare services and facilities to people with disabilities. Titles II and III of the ADA include provisions for ADA accessibility healthcare. Title II of the ADA applies to state and local government-operated public hospitals, clinics, and healthcare services, whereas Title III of the ADA applies to privately owned and operated hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to recipients of federal financial assistance and programs run by the federal government.
In light of these legal provisions, claiming ignorance about healthcare digital accessibility will not save you from the wrath of the law, which is why we have provided you with these top practical steps for healthcare accessibility.
Practical Steps Toward Healthcare Digital Accessibility
Are your medical services available online? If you answered yes, have you ensured ADA site compliance so that people with disabilities can access the services you offer? If not, consider how many people may have benefited from your healthcare services but are now suffering in silence because they are unable to interact with you due to your inaccessible website or other online tools. You can work on this and make healthcare more digitally accessible so that more people can benefit from your healthcare expertise, products, and services. Here are some of the most practical steps you can take in this direction.
- Affirm ADA Accessibility Healthcare
Join the growing number of healthcare providers who have publicly stated their support for healthcare digital accessibility. You can accomplish this by appointing a healthcare digital accessibility coordinator and posting a healthcare accessibility statement on all of your public websites and apps. Examine your policies and procedures to ensure they are in line with ADA accessibility healthcare. Moving in this direction demonstrates your commitment to digital accessibility in healthcare while also reducing the likelihood of litigation and potential damages.
- Develop a Plan Toward Healthcare Digital Accessibility
Experts in healthcare accessibility, such as ADA Compliance Pros, can assist you in developing a plan that will allow you to fully embrace digital accessibility in healthcare. Building the capacity of your internal marketing teams, assisting compliance and risk teams, and determining the appropriate scope of work for your enterprise, including re-orienting your external-facing websites and apps, will all be included.
- Forward Thinking
Ensure that all websites and apps in the design stages incorporate the design and content that will assist you in providing ADA accessible healthcare. You can seek assistance from ADA site compliance experts such as ADA Compliance Pros, who can assist with auditing websites or apps and detecting underlying issues before they are coded, thereby avoiding costly corrections later.
More Information?
If you need more information and further practical steps for the healthcare industry’s digital accessibility, call us at (626) 486-220 to speak to a healthcare industry digital accessibility expert, or click here for further direction