The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects consumers who may be unable to see or otherwise interact with the common signs that you would find inside a medical facility or other venue. For this reason, the Act spells out specific rules that govern the coloring, the mounting heights and also the mounting locations for applicable signage products. But is your medical center in compliance?
On the Outside
ADA compliant signs for Chandler medical centers should be the first to welcome your patients. These are not just markers for the interior. Rather, they play an important role in guiding patients into the building safely.
- Parking spaces. Where are the parking spaces that you have allocated to handicapped drivers? Mark them clearly so that other patients do not mistakenly park in these reserved spots.
- Passenger loading. When disabled patients arrive via taxi and service vans, ensure that they can easily enter the building and also be picked up very close to the exit. Marked passenger loading zones prevent other motorists from parking in these areas for long periods of time.
- Entrance/exit signs. Medical centers frequently have multiple entrances and exits. Moreover, there are oftentimes multiple buildings on one property. Reduce any confusion by clearly labeling the patient entrance and exit.
On the Inside
Once on the inside of your medical or surgical center, the signs now need to help with wayfinding in a setting that is difficult to navigate even if you do not have disabilities.
- Rescue assistance locations. When you worked through your center’s emergency exit plan, you also provided rescue assistance locations for patients who would not be able to escape via stairwells. The locations are known to emergency responders and permit patients to wait in safety until they can be rescued.
- Permanent room markers. Each permanent room needs to be clearly marked. It is here that some centers make a mistake. While a room is initially considered to only be a temporary setup, it can become a permanent setup over time. This is particularly the case when budget cuts make a move of the office or patient care area impossible. Stay on the right side of the law by periodically reviewing your temporary rooms and having signage done for those rooms that have become permanent.
- Amenities. Help patients locate the restrooms, the cafeteria, the lobby and also the business offices. Hoistways and elevators also should be clearly identified for the use of handicapped patients.
Ordering the Signs
At Spotlight Signs and Imaging Solutions, we understand that there is a lot of confusion about the look, necessity and mounting requirements of ADA signs. Chandler, AZ, medical offices managers also find it confusing when some of their signage was grandfathered into the old ADA regulations while others must comply with the new ones. Do not worry! We can help you navigate the somewhat treacherous waters of being in full compliance at all times. Talk to our friendly professionals today. We gladly come out for a full site evaluation. We can then move forward and disclose where you may be missing some crucial ADA-compliant markers.