AFC Industries dubs its Whitestone Workstation as the company’s “radiology dream station.” The workstation includes electronic adjustments of work surface height and tilt and independent electronic adjustment of monitor platform height and focal length. The Whitestone Workstation also includes an environmental heating and cooling system, which enables radiologists to directly regulate the temperature and alleviate the heat that’s produced by the computer units.

Humanscale also offers ergonomic solutions for the medical community – everything from glare filters to lighting options. The company’s M8 Monitor Arm accommodates a variety of monitors weighing up to 42 pounds. Humanscale’s Owens emphasizes the importance of all ergonomic elements working in harmony for a truly safe and comfortable workspace.

“It’s really not one product; it’s looking at the environment as a whole,” he says. “If you remove one element from this ergonomic setup, you can potentially be trumping what you’re trying to achieve in these locations.”

Cornell’s Hedge says radiologists need to keep some basic principles in mind in order to avoid injuries and potential errors in their work. Physicians need to position their computer screens in a comfortable viewing position. Investing in monitor arms is an easy way to improve the ergonomics of the job, enabling radiologists to control the position of the screens. Because radiologists are mostly sedentary, they also need a comfortable, ergonomic chair.

“Preferably one that has a higher back, so they can actually lean back and rest their back and shoulders against the back of the chair,” Hedge says.

To avoid applying strain on the shoulders and the wrists, radiologists should position the keyboard and computer mouse at a comfortable distance in front of them. Finally, radiologists should take periodic breaks to stretch. These simple alterations to the workspace “let you fundamentally change how people work,” says Hedge. “And if they have less risk of injury, they’ll be more productive at the end of the workday and feel better.”

Implementing ergonomics
Although ergonomic solutions have advantages for both the hospital staff and administration, it’s not always easy to find the funds necessary to alter the working environment. However, ergonomic experts argue that the negative financial impact associated with the loss of productivity, injury rates and employee turnover outweighs the price of the initial investment.

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