Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-04524
Abstract: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-04518
Editorial: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-05480
URL goes live when the embargo lifts
Two new papers from the American College of Physicians (ACP) address barriers to health care for people with disabilities and offer policy recommendations to make health care and medical education more inclusive and accessible for physicians, medical students and patients. In the papers, ACP says that disability as an aspect of diversity should be considered when making policy decisions, and that implementing the recommendations would improve care for patients with disabilities and ensure a diverse physician workforce reflective of American society. The two companion papers, "Improving the Health of and Access to Health Care for People with Disabilities: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians" and "Fostering Support and Inclusion for Physicians, Post-Graduate Trainees, and Medical Students with Disabilities: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians," are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
"Improving the Health of and Access to Health Care for People with Disabilities: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians," addresses health disparities among US adults with disabilities and focuses on improving their access to health care. It offers recommendations to improve access to and quality of health care for patients with disabilities through policy changes in areas such as health insurance coverage, accessibility of care facilities, health professional education, research participation and data collection.
"Fostering Support and Inclusion for Physicians, Post-Graduate Trainees, and Medical Students with Disabilities: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians" offers policy recommendations to improve the accessibility of medical schools, training programs and the practice of medicine. The paper says that a physician workforce that reflects patient diversity, inclusive of disability, is a key component of improving equity and reducing disparities in health and medicine.
ACP recommends hospitals and health systems implement policies that combat ableism and support accessibility accommodations to cultivate a workplace environment that attracts, supports and retains physicians with disabilities. Such policies include ensuring language and content in medical education are respectful to students with disabilities and maintaining transparent, confidential and timely processes for requesting disability-related accommodations. To support a disability-inclusive physician workforce, health systems and physicians' practices should provide effective disability accommodations across multiple settings in the clinical environment for all medical staff, trainees and patients.
