Eastern District of Pennsylvania Reaches Agreement with Temple University Health System to Provide Greater Education and Equal Access

U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Temple University Health System, Inc. (“Temple Health”) has reached an agreement with the United States to improve employee training and awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), to resolve allegations that Temple Universal Hospital – Episcopal Campus (“Episcopal Hospital”) violated the ADA by denying full and equal access to Episcopal Hospital’s Emergency Department (“ED”) based on an individual’s disability and use of a service animal.

Under the ADA, all hospitals, as places of public accommodation, must provide emergency services to members of the general public. This resolution arises out of an investigation into whether Episcopal Hospital denied an individual with a service animal access to its ED, which is in violation of the ADA.

“All individuals, including individuals with disabilities who require the use of service animals, should have equal access to all hospital services, especially vital emergency services.” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Episcopal Hospital cooperated with the investigation and has recognized the importance of raising awareness of the ADA and service animals.”

To resolve the matter, Episcopal Hospital has agreed to make improvements to both the timing and frequency of employee training related to the ADA and service animals. Specifically, it will require all newly hired staff and security contractors to review its service animal policy, and complete ADA training, within the first week of employment with Episcopal Hospital and on an annual basis thereafter. Episcopal Hospital has further agreed to post a quick-reference reminder about the ADA and service animals at the entrance of the ED.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is committed to investigating alleged violations of the ADA. Those interested in learning more about obligations under the ADA may access www.ada.gov or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mansi G. Shah and Deborah W. Frey handled the matter.