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With the HHS and DOJ enforcement active, healthcare organizations need accessible medical diagnostic equipment.
This summer marked two significant milestones in healthcare accessibility. On July 8, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enforcement deadline passed requiring healthcare facilities that receive federal financial assistance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or other funding from the HHS, to acquire at least one compliant exam chair and one compliant wheelchair scale per facility.1
In alignment with the HHS, just one month later, on August 9, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) enforcement deadline passed requiring state and local government healthcare facilities covered under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to acquire at least one compliant exam chair and one compliant wheelchair scale per facility.2
Both the HHS and DOJ final rulings enforce the 2017 US Access Board (USAB) Standards for Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment (MDE).
For healthcare organizations subject to these requirements, the conversation has shifted from preparing for enforcement to determining whether current equipment and future purchasing decisions support compliance.
What Makes an Exam Chair Accessible?
When evaluating accessible exam chairs, healthcare organizations should consider the entire chair and how it aligns with the applicable standards. Important considerations include:
• Seat height
• Transfer surface dimensions
• Base clearance
• Transfer supports
• Leg supports
The Midmark® 626, Ritter® 228 and 229 Barrier-Free® Examination Chairs address these considerations through intentional design and compliant accessories that support accessible patient transfers and positioning.
Lowering the Barrier to Patient Transfers
Traditional fixed-height examination equipment can create barriers for patients with mobility limitations who may have difficulty transferring onto an exam chair. The 626, 228 and 229 are designed to help address those challenges while supporting the accessibility standards shaping equipment decisions today.
Fixed-height exam chairs in ambulatory settings are typically about 33 inches high. A patient who cannot independently reach that height may need assistance from a caregiver or a patient lift. In some cases, difficulty accessing the chair can interfere with the examination itself.
The Ritter 228 and 229 lower to a 17-inch seat height, helping create a more accessible transfer point for patients. Once the patient is positioned, the chair can be raised to a 37-inch seat height, helping clinicians perform examinations at a more ergonomic height. The 626 lowers even further, down to 15.5 inches, while still offering a 37-inch seat height. Together, these height ranges can improve patient access while allowing clinicians to deliver better care.
Height-adjustable equipment may also help reduce the physical demands associated with patient handling. Using a height-adjustable exam chair rather than a fixed-height chair can reduce caregivers’ perceived physical exertion by as much as 95% to 98%.3
Supporting Transfers Is About More Than Seat Height
Transfer height is important, but patients also need sufficient space and support to enter, exit and reposition.
The Midmark 626, Ritter 228 and 229 provide a 28-inch-wide compliant transfer surface. They can also be configured with Patient Support Rails and Patient Support Rails Plus, which provide a USAB-compliant gripping surface for patients entering, exiting or repositioning on the chair.
For patients who require mechanical assistance, the chairs are compatible with patient lifts and designed to allow transfers without interference.
Lower-body examinations introduce another accessibility consideration. When stirrups are used, appropriate leg supports are required. USAB-compliant Articulating Knee Crutches are available for the Midmark 626, Ritter 228 and 229 to support the patient's thigh, knee and calf during lower-body examinations and procedures.
Choosing the Right Configuration Matters
An important part of MDE compliance is understanding which equipment features are standard and which accessories are necessary for compliance. When reviewing an accessible examination chair, healthcare organizations should ask:
• Does the chair meet the applicable transfer-height requirement?
• Is the transfer surface appropriately sized?
• Does the chair provide sufficient base clearance for patient lift compatibility?
• Which transfer supports are required?
• Are compliant leg supports available when stirrups are used?
Compliance Extends Beyond the Exam Chair
Selecting appropriately configured equipment is an important step, but an accessible chair only helps patients if it is available where they need it. Consider how accessible equipment fits into everyday operations:
• Is accessible equipment distributed appropriately across facilities and specialties?
• Do staff know where accessible examination chairs are located?
• Are caregivers trained to operate the equipment and support patient transfers?
• Could scheduling or room assignments inadvertently create barriers?
• Are accessibility requirements included in procurement specifications and capital replacement plans?
For large health systems, community health centers and multi-site organizations, answering these questions may require collaboration among clinical leadership, facilities, procurement, compliance, finance and risk management teams. An equipment inventory can help organizations understand where accessible chairs are needed most, identify gaps and prioritize future replacement needs.
Planning for Today's Requirements and Tomorrow's Standards
Healthcare organizations also need to distinguish between the standards currently being enforced and newer accessibility standards.
The HHS and DOJ requirements addressed in this summer’s enforcement deadlines are based on the 2017 USAB Standards. New USAB standards were established in 2024, including a new recommendation for a low transfer height of 17 inches. However, the HHS and DOJ have not yet adopted these.
The Midmark 626, Ritter 228 and 229 were designed with the evolving accessibility landscape in mind. Beyond supporting the currently enforced requirements, the Ritter 228 and 229 feature a 17-inch low seat height while the Midmark 626 lowers to 15.5 inches. This positions all three models to address the 17-inch low transfer height established in the 2024 USAB Standards, helping organizations consider both today's requirements and future accessibility needs when making long-term equipment investments.
Designed for Accessible Care
The 2026 HHS and DOJ enforcement deadlines have made accessible MDE an immediate consideration for many healthcare organizations and an ongoing equipment and care-environment objective.
The Midmark 626, Ritter 228 and 229 Barrier-Free Examination Chairs give organizations a way to address those requirements while considering patient access, caregiver ergonomics and the changing accessibility landscape.
Addressing accessibility goes beyond reaching a regulatory milestone. Organizations should carefully select equipment to create accommodating care environments that serve a wider range of patients.
The Midmark 626, Ritter 228 and 229 Barrier-Free® Examination Chairs can help healthcare organizations navigate accessibility requirements, achieve compliance and implement accessible exam room solutions.
Partner with CME Corp. for Midmark ADA Accessible Exam Tables
CME is your go-to, one-stop-shop for ADA compliant exam and procedure chairs by Midmark. Our account managers have a long-standing relationship with Midmark and can work with you to find the best exam or procedure chair for your healthcare facility and staff.
Our Direct-to-Site delivery and installation services assure exam and procedure chairs are delivered and installed when it is convenient for you. And, CME Design and CAD services can help ensure your exam rooms are designed for optimal workflow and ADA compliance.
Click chat to begin a conversation about your ADA compliant exam and procedure chair needs.
1 https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/new-requirements-accessible-medical-diagnostic-equipment.pdf
2 https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-08-08-mde-fact-sheet/
About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier specialty distributor of healthcare, laboratory, and imaging equipment. We partner with over 2,000 manufacturers to offer more than 2 million products. In addition to an extensive product portfolio, we also offer project management, CAD-based layout, design and 3d modeling, warehousing, assembly, staging, consolidated, need-by-date direct-to-site delivery, and biomedical and technical services, all staffed by CME employees. Our mission, to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment acquisition, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate, or expand on schedule, is supported by service locations strategically located across the country.
