How Practices Can Make Room for Mobility

Lisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MSc, has not been weighed in nearly two decades. The last measurement was taken when she still could stand -- before multiple sclerosis made her rely on a wheelchair.
Similar to those in many doctor's offices, the scale where Dr. Iezzoni sees her primary care physician is not wheelchair-accessible.
As a patient and an expert on disabilities, she understands the challenges that people with mobility impairments face when trying to access medical care. She said each obstacle, no matter how small, can send patients with mobility limitations a hurtful message. "It tells people with disabilities, 'You are not welcome here. I do not give the same quality of care to people with disabilities,' " said Dr. Iezzoni, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.