American with Disabilities Act Investigations Ensure Accessibility at Three Medical Providers

PROVIDENCE - The United States Attorney’s Office in Rhode Island this week concluded an investigation into violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) at seven Landmark Medical Center offices in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman.

As a result of the Government’s investigation, the healthcare provider promptly and cooperatively remedied ADA violations requiring accessible parking and medical equipment for individuals in wheelchairs. The deficiencies were discovered during an investigation prompted by a citizen complaint to the United States Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division.

As a result of the investigation and the prompt and cooperative response by Landmark Medical Center, Landmark now has designated accessible parking spaces and accessible medical equipment, including an accessible scale and adjustable-height exam tables and transfer boards at all of its medical offices in Woonsocket, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is accordingly closing its inquiry into the matter.

Over the past year, similar investigations by the United States Attorney’s Office into accessibility deficiencies at two other Rhode Island medical offices also resulted in voluntary corrective measures by those practices to ensure compliance with the ADA.  As a result of these inquiries, RISkinDoc in Cranston voluntarily modified its entrance and purchased equipment to make its exam rooms accessible, while Coastal Medical, Inc., with the assistance of its landlord, Belvoir Properties, LLC, similarly undertook voluntarily corrective measures at its Providence facility, including ensuring adequate parking access for disabled patients, and accessible examination rooms and equipment inside the facility.

The investigation and resolution of each of these matters were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy R. Romero and United States Attorney’s Office investigator David Neill.

The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA, including Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities. For more information on the ADA and to access these publications, visit ADA.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD).  ADA complaints may be filed by email to ada.complaint@usdoj.gov.

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