Report from B.C. offers best practices to reduce injuries for ultrasound technologists

80 per cent of sonographers seek medical treatment for musculoskeletal injuries

The Health Sciences Association (HSA) of British Columbia and WorkSafeBC have unveiled a report on preventing injuries to ultrasound technologists.

Ten years ago, a survey of B.C. ultrasound technologists found 91 per cent of them had suffered work-related injuries at some point in their careers. According to recent medical literature, 80 per cent of sonographers seek medical treatment for musculoskeletal injuries, 17 per cent miss work due to the symptoms of their injuries and 15 per cent reduce their duties to recover.

The joint project was a ground-breaking partnership, said HSA president Reid Johnson.

"We hired certified professional ergonomist Judy Village to work with hospital staff in ultrasound departments to identify the types of scans posing the highest risk of injury, as well as equipment and practices that increase the risk of pain and injury," he said.

Ultrasonographers at St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox, B.C. and at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital participated in the study.

The project resulted in a comprehensive review of best practices for hospital ultrasound technologists. Included in the reporter are tips for minimizing the risk of injury including ensuring sonographers have the time and training for optimal set-up and providing sufficient breaks between patients and avoiding scheduling difficult scans back-to-back.

"Hospital sonographers are highly-trained and a crucial part of the modern health care team," Johnson said. "In addition to prenatal scans, ultrasound is used to help diagnose cancer, cardiovascular disease, and many, many other soft-tissue medical conditions. It's highly effective as well as relatively non-intrusive — which means doctors have increasingly come to rely on ultrasound technologists and their skills.”

BC hospitals are experiencing a shortage of diagnostic imaging staff.

This shortage is particularly acute in the interior and the north of the province. Ultrasound staff work long overtime hours in an effort to forestall any further wait lists, said Johnson.

"This kind of workload also contributes to workplace injuries for sonographers, further aggravating the staff shortage,” he said. “You can bet this has an impact on patient care. These tools were developed so that sonographers across B.C. have access to resources that help them stay healthy and on the job to provide the patient care British Columbians need."

The full report can be downloaded from www.hsabc.org in the resources section, under health and safety.

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