Recommendations on Standards for the Design of Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Adults with Disabilities, Advisory Committee Final Report

5.3.2.2 Transfer Sides Recommendation for Imaging Equipment

On imaging equipment, the transfer surface is oriented along the long dimension of the surface on which patients are in the supine, prone, or side-lying position (see Figure 5.2.1.4).

The Committee recommends that imaging equipment provide transfer surfaces on at least one long side of the table.

Rationale for the recommendation

Patients access diagnostic imaging equipment from one of the long sides of the table. Patients would not transfer onto imaging tables from the head or foot end because the patient would need to scoot,” slide, or twist a long distance to get into the proper position for the exam, a difficult if not impossible feat. Recognizing this, imaging equipment provides the transfer surfaces on the short sides of the table. The Committee members recognized the option of transferring from either of the long sides of the equipment is optimum.
Imaging manufacturers noted that many X-ray system tables and all DXA tables with today’s technology have part of the imaging equipment support located on one of the long sides and all patient transfers happen on the opposite side. Many X-ray systems and all DXA systems as currently installed have equipment obstructions on one of the long sides. Industry agreed the best solution is to have transfer access where feasible within the medical equipment design on both long sides.