Occupational Injury:What Can Managers Do for their Employees?: Occupational Injury: What Can Managers Do for their Employees? By Joan P Baker MSR RDMS RDCS Bellevue Community College Sound Ergonomics Consultants for Sonographer Health


What is Musculoskeletal Strain Injury (MSI)?: What is Musculoskeletal Strain Injury (MSI)? A condition caused by thousands of repetitive, forceful, or awkward movements which produce microtrauma in muscles, tendons, ligaments. This leads to inflammation. The debris left by inflammation creates scar tissue which in turn causes adherence and contracting of the soft tissues. This increases the workload on the muscles, promoting more strain.


How Common / Serious is MSI?: How Common / Serious is MSI? MSI accounts for 60% of all job-related injuries (Dept. of Labor) 650,000 develop work related injuries a year Costs businesses $20 billion per year Average compensation $29,000 per injury (National Council on Compensation Insurance)


Ultrasound Statistics: Ultrasound Statistics 8 out of every 10 Sonographers are scanning in pain. 1 out of 5 are involved in a career ending injury. 28.2% of Sonographers’ careers have been affected by MSI (SBS, 10,000 responses)


Equipment Companies, Employers and Sonographers must work together: Equipment Companies, Employers and Sonographers must work together


The Technology and Know-how Exists to make Ultrasound Equipment “Sonographer Friendly”: The Technology and Know-how Exists to make Ultrasound Equipment “Sonographer Friendly” Voice Activation Heads-Up Display Light Weight Cables Ergonomically Designed Scan-Heads


The Employer’s Responsibility is to Provide a Safe Working Environment: The Employer’s Responsibility is to Provide a Safe Working Environment Patient Scheduling Height Adjustable Stretchers, Chairs and Cushions Breaks that are Required by Law


Is This Your Way of Combating Reimbursement?: Is This Your Way of Combating Reimbursement?


Tasks that cause symptoms:: Tasks that cause symptoms: Applying transducer pressure obese patient population may require up to 40 lbs. of pressure to be applied peripheral venous studies require pressure to be applied to the extremity Gripping the transducer a tight grip is not necessary narrow transducers cause pinch grip


Tasks that cause symptoms:: Tasks that cause symptoms: Shoulder abduction result of exam table height too high, chair too low shoulder should not be abducted more than 30 degrees Overuse too many patients not enough breaks too much on-call


Tasks that cause symptoms:: Tasks that cause symptoms: Repetitive twisting of neck/trunk viewing the monitor poor postural alignment keyboard access


Tasks that cause symptoms:: Tasks that cause symptoms: Repetitive movement inappropriate patient scheduling lack of exam variety Lack of breaks for muscle recovery Bedside exams pushing the equipment setting up the room overreaching


Tasks that cause symptoms:: Tasks that cause symptoms: Uncomfortable positioning of limbs Hyperextension or flexion of hand and wrist, especially in cardiac and obstetrical exams


Sonography Study Results- Pain & Discomfort: Sonography Study Results- Pain & Discomfort SDMS, CSDMS, BCUS, HCBT survey results -


Breaks of 10 minutes or longer: Breaks of 10 minutes or longer SDMS, CSDMS, BCUS, HCBT survey results


What Aggravates the Pain: What Aggravates the Pain SDMS, CSDMS, BCUS, HCBT survey results -


Economics: Ultrasound chargeable income per hour is $250-600 per day is $2,000-4,800 Ultrasound machine down for one week due to sonographer injury is equivalent to $10,000 chargeable revenue Four weeks of chargeable revenue loss is equivalent to a year of a sonographer wages Average cost of $10,500 to recruit a sonographer Economics


What is the Sonographer’s Responsibility: What is the Sonographer’s Responsibility Familiarize themselves with behaviors that place them at risk Take the time to adjust the equipment Follow an exercise program Communicate work site problems so that corrective measures can be taken.


What is the Employer’s Responsibility?: What is the Employer’s Responsibility? educate employees about risk factors for occupational injury obtain ergonomic on- site evaluations. provide appropriate accessory equipment institute a work safety program employers can take steps to alleviate these injuries hire adequate number of competent staff to provide breaks provide state-of-the-art equipment to lessen fatigue and scanning time make ergonomics a part of your buying decision


Slide22: Invest in your Sonographers… They are Worth It


Managers: This Problem is Real!: Managers: This Problem is Real! Listen to your staff Show concern and sincerity Heed OSHA and L & I laws Protect your staff from excessive scheduling demands Provide ergonomic education and accessory equipment Make ergonomics part of your buying decision


Thank youfor Listening: Thank you for Listening