As the latest example of NewYork-Presbyterian’s ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality health care to all patients and as part of the next phase of a major capital investment and new construction plan, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, in consultation with the New York Lawyers for Public Interest (NYLPI), has developed a timeline to implement approximately 1,300 accessibility enhancements, including but not limited to entrances and boarding and disembarking areas, interior and exterior routes, doors, signage, public restrooms, patient rooms, service counters, nurse stations and gift shops, all of which are expected to be completed by the end of 2028. These accessibility enhancements include portions of NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital and Herbert Irving Pavilion on the NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus.
These efforts are especially important because patients with disabilities consistently experience poorer health outcomes than non-disabled patients, especially when medical facilities are less accessible. Through these efforts, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the top hospitals in the nation and New York City according to U.S. News & World Report, is working to significantly raise the standard of care for patients with disabilities.
“NYLPI applauds NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s commitment to providing a high standard of care to all New Yorkers, including patients with disabilities,” said Christopher Schuyler, senior staff attorney for NYLPI’s Disability Justice Program. “NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is setting an example in providing equitable and accessible care to the disability community, and we hope other hospitals across our city and state will follow suit.”
Just prior to the pandemic, NYLPI approached NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital to provide guidance and feedback on incorporating accessibility enhancements into certain NewYork-Presbyterian facilities. Discussions continued throughout the pandemic, and with further assistance from an outside accessibility consultant, the two parties developed a plan to incorporate accessibility enhancements into capital improvement plans for specific areas of Herbert Irving Pavilion and NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital. These accessibility enhancements, which will begin in early 2023 and continue through 2028, will include, but are not limited to, entrances and boarding and disembarking areas, interior and exterior routes, doors, signage, public restrooms, patient rooms, service counters, nurse stations, and gift shops. The hospital will also install 31 adjustable examination chairs. Finally, the hospital will provide staff training on treating patients with disabilities. The hospital will share annual progress reports with NYLPI.
Lack of accessibility in health care facilities is a major cause of poor health outcomes for patients with disabilities. Older facilities, including NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, were built long before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. As a result, many hospital buildings are largely inaccessible to the disability community. In line with its goal of providing the highest quality patient care, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has demonstrated efforts to modernize its facilities to meet equity and patient care service goals. Furthermore, while such large-scale accessibility improvements are essential to provide equal access to care for patients with disabilities, they also benefit many other patients and hospital staff, including older adults and patients whose first language is not English.
About New York-Presbyterian Church
NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the most comprehensive and integrated academic health systems in the nation, with 10 hospitals throughout the Greater New York region, approximately 200 primary and specialty care clinics and medical groups, and a range of telehealth services.
A leader in medical education, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is affiliated with two of the world’s top medical schools, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. This affiliation provides patients with access to the nation’s top physicians, a wide range of medical specialties, the latest medical innovations, treatment developments and life-saving research.
Founded 250 years ago, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has a long history of medical advancements and innovation, from inventing the Pap test to pioneering a groundbreaking heart valve replacement procedure called TAVR.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s 49,000 employees and affiliated physicians are committed to providing the highest quality, most compassionate health care to New Yorkers and patients from around the country and the world.
For more information, visit www.nyp.org.
About New York Lawyers for Public Interest (NYLPI)
Founded in 1976 by bar leaders, the New York Public Interest Lawyers Association is a community-led civil rights organization dedicated to pursuing justice for all New Yorkers. NYLPI works for a New York City with quality health care and housing, safe jobs, good schools, and healthy neighborhoods where all people can thrive in their communities. NYLPI’s vision is one in which all New Yorkers have the resources they need to succeed and live with dignity and independence. NYLPI’s community-led approach drives our work on civil rights, disability, health, immigration, and environmental justice. NYLPI seeks lasting change through litigation, community organizing, policy advocacy, pro bono services, and education.
NYLPI’s Disability Justice Program has a long history of fighting for equal access to health care for people with disabilities. As part of a coalition of advocacy groups and city and state civil rights enforcement agencies, NYLPI pursues systemic improvements by responding to the needs of community members and fighting for their rights to accessible medical equipment, accessible facilities, and reasonable accommodations.
For more information, visit www.nylpi.org.