Healthcare Disability Advocate, Fueled by Personal Experience: Megan Morris

A recent survey surprisingly found only 41% of physicians were “very confident” about their ability to provide equal quality care to patients with a disability. Megan Morris, Ph.D., and her allies are trying to figure out why and how to boost that percentage.

STAT News’ STATUS List recently added Morris to its prestigious collection of influencers because of her role as founder of the Disability Equity Collaborative.

In an interview with “Conversations on Health Care” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter, Morris discusses how outdated attitudes, inaccessible equipment, and a lack of training continue to limit healthcare access for patients with disabilities.

Morris also shares how new federal standards are pushing healthcare systems to better track and respond to disability needs and why simply collecting data isn’t enough without systemic change.

“We have long argued that collecting disability status information should be part of standard demographics. Just like asking what language you speak, you have to ask: ‘Do you have a disability?’ so you can identify accommodation needs early and deliver better care.”

From bias in provider attitudes to practical solutions using technology, Morris lays out a clear roadmap for building a healthcare system that truly serves everyone.

Watch the full conversation.

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