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Ergonomic Essentials for Healthcare

August 19, 2015
hospital worker

It's no secret that hospitals and healthcare facilities provide some very distinct challenges compared to most other workplaces. For example, healthcare is non-stop – it happens 24/7, 365 days a year – which means the facility must accommodate staff of all shapes and sizes during around-the-clock shifts.

The work is demanding too, as the staff must regularly multi-task while combining periods of physical work with periods of highly skilled knowledge work. In fact, in 2012, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that healthcare workers suffer from the highest numbers of ergonomic-type musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

Supporting a productive, injury-free staff means equipping them with the necessary ergonomic components that are adjustable and designed to accommodate the wide range of body sizes and shapes that comprise healthcare workers today.

Ergonomists have identified these essential components to an ergonomic healthcare setting:

  • Seating – Look for durability, support, and maximum adjustability to accommodate staff of varying heights and weight
  • Lumbar supports – An easy and cost-effective way to ensure added lower back support to all staff
  • Mobile carts & wall mounts – Ease of use and mobility help reduce nurse stress and fatigue and keep data readily accessible
  • Anti-fatigue matting – Reduces standing fatigue, improves productivity, and helps prevent slips and fall
  • Height adjustable desks/workstations – Accommodates staff of all heights and allows for seated work option too
  • Monitor arms – Makes the monitor easily adjustable to each workers eye level, reducing eye and neck strain
  • Palms/wrist supports – Provides support and allows users hand to freely move above the keyboard while typing
  • Keyboards & keyboard support systems – An ergonomic keyboard/keyboard tray at the correct height for each worker helps keep wrists straight and elbows open slightly beyond 90 degrees
  • Computer mice/input devices – The best computer mice keep your arm relaxed while using the device, thus reducing muscle tension in the arm and wrist
  • Task lighting – In hospitals, accurately reading reports and other paper documents require optimum task-specific light without the glare and reflection caused by overhead lighting schemes.

Learn more about these and other key healthcare ergonomic resources here

Disclaimer

AliMed, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of medical supply products, and is not a medical authority. The contents contained in this article, including text, graphics, imagery, and other materials, are for informational and educational purposes only. AliMed does not provide or intend to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and the information contained here should not be treated as such. If you have questions about a specific medical condition or specific personal use of a medical device, always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

This blog was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Although every effort has been made to present information that is accurate and true to the best of our knowledge, this content may contain omissions or errors. AliMed does not regularly update information or resources for this content and does not guarantee, make any warranties, and accepts no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information presented.