Inclusive Care for Patients With Disabilities : A Practical Guide

Individuals with disabilities comprise over a quarter of the U.S. population and are regularly cared for by clinicians in all specialties and settings. Inclusive Care for Patients With Disabilities: A Practical Guide, edited by Drs. Dorothy W. Tolchin and Claire Rushin, who launched Harvard Medical School’s robust disability curriculum, helps medical students, residents, fellows, physicians, and advanced practitioners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to provide welcoming, accessible care for patients with disabilities. This full-color manual is a unique and valuable resource for study or for use at the point of care, providing authoritative guidance to approaching the clinical encounter and beyond. The book is authored by a team of interdisciplinary medical providers, medical students, and self-advocates to provide targeted stakeholder-engaged content appropriate for providers at any stage of training and practice. Includes easy-to-follow, high-yield tips useful before, during, and after patient encounters in any clinical setting, including disability-specific questions to ask, simple modifications to common physical examination techniques, and high-relevance issues specific to different disability types Offers a practical approach for ten different disability types, including mobility, sensory, intellectual/developmental, communication, and more, as well as an approach to transitions from pediatric to adult care Showcases common devices and technologies individuals with different disabilities may bring to the clinic, have at home, or could benefit from Contains a useful appendix clinicians can share with office staff to foster the creation of welcoming clinical spaces that foster respect and independence for patients Integrates the knowledge of providers with deep experience providing patient-centered care for people with each disability type and those teaching trainees about care for people with disabilities, as well as recommendations from individuals living with each disability type covered