UCSF to Present Panel on Serving Patients with Disabilities on January 24
The campus community is invited to join the discussion titled “The Medical Experience of Patients with Disabilities” from noon to 1 p.m. in the UCSF School of Nursing, room N 217, on the Parnassus campus.
The panel, which includes faculty, staff and a trainee, will describe key factors affecting the care of patients with disabilities and highlight efforts being made by the UCSF Medical Center to respond to disabled patient needs.
The moderator will be Bruce Flynn, vice chair of the CACDI and current director of Risk Management for UCSF.
Panelists include:
- Margot Kushel, MD, associate professor of medicine at the UCSF-affiliated San Francisco General Hospitlal, and a researcher regarding health care for marginalized populations, will provide an overview of health care issues for patients with disabilities.
- Susan Alves-Rankin, director of Patient Relations at UCSF Medical Center, will provide an overview of training and access improvement efforts related to patients with disabilities within the medical center.
- Sally McDonald, member of the UCSF Children’s Hospital Parents Advisory Council, will provide a parent’s perspective on issues affecting care for children with disabilities.
- Nathaniel Gleason, MD, a medical resident at UCSF Medical Center, will discuss how disability shapes his role as a physician in helping to develop curriculum regarding caring for patients with disabilities. A recent “Voices” video profile of Gleason is posted on the diversity website.
- A patient representative with a disability will discuss his/her experiences as a patient at UCSF and highlight the importance of supports for patients with disabilities.
Disability Forum, Awards Ceremony
The UCSF community is invited to attend two upcoming events:
- Forum: “The Medical Experience of Patients with Disabilities,” noon to 1 p.m., January 24, UCSF School of Nursing, room N 217.
- Chancellor’s Award for Disability Services: Three members of the campus community will receive awards, noon to 2 p.m., February 7, UCSF School of Nursing, room N 217.
Addressing Disability Issues
In related news, the campus community will recognize three individuals for extraordinary efforts in championing the rights of disabled persons on Monday, Feb. 7 when the Chancellor’s Award for Disability Services is presented for the first time at UCSF. The ceremony, to be held from noon to 2 p.m., in the School of Nursing, room N 217, on the Parnassus campus.
The award highlights a great effort by many partners across the University community who serve on the CACDI, which is charged with examining the issues affecting individuals with disabilities at UCSF; evaluating existing policies, procedures, and/or programs that affect those issues; serving as a coordinating body for groups or individuals concerned with disability issues at UCSF; and recommending to the chancellor changes that will increase accessibility at UCSF.
In its annual report to the chancellor, the CACDI recommended that UCSF continue to enhance access for patients with disabilities and to improve accommodation, access resources and awareness of disabilities. Among recent developments, UCSF Medical Center as purchased accessible exam tables, implemented a patient lift assistance program and revived the medical center website to ensure that it is fully accessible.