[How accessible are German hospitals? A secondary data analysis of the 2019 structured quality reports]

People with disabilities encounter a variety of barriers in hospitals, like inadequate signage, a lack of barrier-free access and a lack of communication aids. Despite legal requirements for the removal of barriers in the healthcare sector, there is a lack of structured data on accessibility in German hospitals.This study aims to close these gaps and provide an overview of accessibility in hospitals in Germany. A secondary data analysis of the 2019 mandatory quality reports based on 2.242 German hospitals was conducted, analyzing 40 self-reports on accessibility variables from eight areas using descriptive statistics.According to the quality reports, hospitals fulfil an average of 17.2 out of 40 accessibility criteria surveyed. Measures for sensory and mental disabilities are less often provided than for physical impairments. Many hospitals are neither accessible nor do they offer barrier-free communication systems.The self-reported accessibility in German hospitals is contrary to modern standards for patient-oriented healthcare. There is potential for development. There is a need for further research on the health effects of accessibility in hospitals.