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

Introduction

The Tables & Chairs Subcommittee met six times via conference call. We began our discussion by reiterating that the intent of the proposed standard is to provide for independent access to and use of diagnostic equipment.

First, we discussed in length the definitions/differences between examination tables and chairs to understand the medical equipment we are discussing. Subcommittee members felt that the definitions should be based on how the device is defined by manufacturer as follows:

Manufacturers design examination tables with primary functions of supporting patients in a prone position, side-lying position, or both.

Manufacturers design examination chairs with primary functions of supporting patients in a seated or supine position.