Implementation of a Policy for Accommodations for Physicians With Disabilities.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Policy
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Physicians with disabilities are underrepresented in medicine.
• They encounter significant procedural, policy, environmental, and cultural barriers.
• Existing Canadian hospital policies for physician accommodations are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of an Accessibility and Accommodations Policy for physicians with disabilities at The Ottawa Hospital's Department of Medicine.
• To highlight the policy's key elements and broader implementation strategies.
• To emphasize the importance of data collection and impact monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Environmental scan of Canadian hospital accommodations policies.
• Development of a formal Accessibility and Accommodations Policy through an iterative process.
• Confidential surveys, focus groups, and interviews for impact assessment.

Main Results:

• The Ottawa Hospital's Department of Medicine approved Canada's first formal Accessibility and Accommodations Policy in June 2022.
• The policy covers recruitment, accommodation planning, funding, return-to-work, and alternative contributions.
• Data collection and monitoring strategies are being established to assess policy impact.

Conclusions:

• Implementing a dedicated Accessibility and Accommodations Policy is crucial for the inclusion and full capacity of physicians with disabilities.
• Such policies can enrich the learning environment, increase patient empathy, and improve working conditions.
• Continuous monitoring and data collection are essential for policy refinement and demonstrating value.