Draft Meeting Minutes 1

Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards 

Advisory Committee

Minutes

January 22 and 23, 2013

U.S. Access Board, Washington, DC

MEMBERS PRESENT:_________________________________________________________

John LaViola, Hologic, Inc. Tamara James, Duke Univ. & Medical Ctr.

Kevin Patmore, Stryker Medical Lisa Iezzoni, Boston CIL (Chair)

Jon Wells, Midmark Corporation Renee Kielich, Hill-Rom Company, Inc.

Elisabeth George, Philips Healthcare Kleo J. King, United Spinal Association

Kat Taylor, Equal Rights Center June Isaacson Kailes, HFCDHP & DREDF

Molly Follette Story, FDA Zita Johnson-Betts, DOJ

Mark E. Derry, NCIL Hans Beinke, Siemens Medical Solutions

Maureen Simonson, PVA Kaylan M. Dunlap, Evan Terry Associates

John Jaeckle, GE Healthcare Jeffery Baker, MTI

Joseph Drago, Scale-Tronix, Inc. Carol J. Bradley, Sutter Health

Rochelle J. Mendonca, Univ. Sciences Phila JB Risk, MPI (via teleconference)

Jack DeBraal, Brewer Company (via teleconference)

Don Brandon, ADA National Network (via teleconference)

Mary Ann Spohrer, CRCPD (via teleconference)

ALTERNATES PRESENT:______________________________________________________

John Metellus, Siemens Medical Solutions Sarah DeCosse, DOJ

Bob Menke, Midmark Corporation Janice Carroll, Sutter Health

Glenn Nygard, Hologic, Inc. (via teleconference) Richard M. Eaton, MITA

ACCESS BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF PRESENT:_____________________________

Rex Pace (Committee DFO) Matthew McCollough

David Capozzi Marsha Mazz

James Raggio Rose Bunales

Earlene Sesker

OTHERS PRESENT:__ _____________________________________________________

Darren Walters, MTI Mary Adams, DOJ

Michelle Lustrino, Hologic, Inc. Douglas Coldwell, Univ. of Louisville

Heather Boyd, Applied Policy Irene Bowen, ADA One, LLC

Jim Scott, Applied Policy Janice Majewski, DOJ

Dennis Monty, Beth Israel Deaconess Med. Ctr. Jim Bostrom, DOJ

Jonathan Young, Midmark Corporation Paul Farber (via teleconference)

Gloria Romanelli, Amer. Coll. Radiology Cara Brickley (via teleconference)

Dee Kumpar (via teleconference) Theresa Branham, Amer. Coll. of Radiology

Christian Hendrickson (via teleconference) Alexa Rosenbloom (via teleconference)

Cathy Ellis, National Rehab. Hospital Angela Scott (via teleconference)
Draft Meeting Minutes 2

Barbara Ridley, Alta Bates Summitt Med. Ctr. (via teleconference)

Lauren Snowden, Kessler Institute for Rehab. (via teleconference)

Michael Yochelson, MedStar National Rehab. Network

Willa Crolius, Instit. for Human Centered Design

Nuket Curran, UPMC Ctrs. for Rehab. Services (via teleconference)

Opening Remarks and Approval of Minutes

The Committee Chair, Lisa Iezzoni, opened the meeting. The committee approved the minutes 

from its December meeting and did a roll call.

Exceptions and Transfer Supports: Presentation and Discussion

Rex Pace gave a PowerPoint presentation explaining how exceptions are used when writing 

accessibility guidelines and reviewing the proposed requirements for the transfer supports.

Presentations and Discussion

Medical practitioners, clinician and manufactures were in attendance to present information to 

the committee. The presenters were Willa Crolius (Institute for Human Centered Design), 

Barbara Ridley (Alta Bates Summit Medical Center), Cathy Ellis (National Rehabilitation 

Hospital), Michael Yochelson (MedStar National Rehabilitation Network), Lauren Snowden 

(Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, Nüket Curran (UPMC Centers for Rehabilitation Services), 

Elisabeth George (Philips Healthcare), Michelle Lustrino (Hologic), John LaViola 

(Hologic),John Jaeckle (GE Healthcare), John Metellus (Siemens Healthcare), Douglas Coldwell 

(University of Louisville) and Theresa Branham (American College of Radiology). The 

practitioners and clinicians provided information on how people transfer onto medical diagnostic 

equipment. The manufacturers described current mammography, DEXA and other radiological 

equipment highlighting elements that currently comply and those that may not be able to comply 

with the proposed standards. 

Based on the presentations each committee member stated their current thoughts concerning the 

28 inches versus 30 inches minimum width and the minimum height of 17 inches. The 

committee questioned their authority to mandate alternate methods to obtain accessibility to 

equipment requiring redesign. They expressed concerns that requiring redesign taking 5 to 10 

years where alternate method can be achieved in a shorter period of time. Jim Raggio explained 

the scope of the Access Board work, based on statute, as mandating specification for the 

equipment. Mr. Raggio discussed alternate methods as something that will possibly be decided 

by FDA and/or DOJ. Several committee members felt that how the industry defines medical 

equipment (space in room included/ancillary pieces) and is different than how it may be defined 

for this standard. Zita Johnson-Betts Several clarified that although the committee can discuss 

alternate means of providing accessibility the Access Board does not have the authority to write 

standards addressing alternate means of accessibility. 
Draft Meeting Minutes 3

Subcommittees

After a discussion, the committee decided to proceed with the subcommittees on mammography

and weight scale equipment. The committee decided that the proposed subcommittees for 

imaging equipment with bores and other imaging equipment should be combined into a 

committee named radiological equipment. Additionally it was decided that beds are not usually

for diagnosis thus the subcommittee proposed for stretchers and beds would focus only on 

stretchers. Mr. Pace agreed to start scheduling dates for the subcommittee meetings. 

 

Public Comment 

Dennis Monty from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston stated that he found the 

presentations to be very informative but wanted to remind the committee that ensuring proper 

weight capacity is important no matter what other specifications are mandated

Wrap Up and Adjournment

The Chair thanked everyone for their participation and reiterated how important it is to start 

subcommittee meeting as soon as possible. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:07.