You can have say in what your reading room looks like! Every radiologist has sat at their imaging desk and thought how their life could be better if they just made a few changes to their room. Many radiologists come to us because they want to improve their room and their health. Some common issues we hear about room design:

• "I am facing the wrong direction and cannot see people standing over my shoulder."
• "Some light is creeping in through the blinds making it hard to read my screens."
• "I do not have control over the climate in my room, I'm freeze or sweating all shift long."
• "I cannot dim the lights; they are either 'off' or 'on'."
• "My own voice bounces off the wall, making my dictation difficult."
• "I’m stuck sitting all day and cannot stand at my imaging desk."

Issues like these, may reduce productivity and make the job of a radiologist that much tougher.

So, how do you fix some of these issues? Talk to a company that specializes in reading room design. Check to see if the company has degreed interior designers who understand the basics of room design, including ADA requirements. Next, see if those designers have experience with this type of design. This is critical, because reading rooms are very unique environments; each one is a little different than the next. Three items worth your consideration include:

1. Configuration
   Good designers can help with the location of your imaging desk in the room. If you have measurements of the room, they can help with an AutoCad design. They can show you how the room would look with both a bird’s-eye view and a rendering. Let them know what you want, and they can work with you. The designer considers windows and can help your screens face the right direction so you do not have light spilling on them. (However, there are some rooms that are so small, there is not much to be done.) 
   
   
2. Climate Control
   Furniture companies that specialize in reading rooms can offer personal climate control for each imaging desk. This would allow each users to cool themselves with a fan or heat their feet with a forced-air heater. These units can also adjust the lighting at the desk. 
   
   
3. Noise
   Noise can be an issue for various reasons. Some doctors with their own room have an echo coming from the sheetrock walls. Others are sharing a large room with a more traditional type of office, where noise spills over from other conversations. Noise reduction needs to be fairly close to the noise source to be effective. NRC Noise Reduction Coefficient is scored from .00 (lots of rebound) to .99 (very quiet). For an office environment, the government looks for about .50 NRC. For a reading room, a higher NRC is needed, a solution with a .75 NRC rating will help reduce the noise and improve concentration. This can be accomplished with panels that go around the imaging desk. Adding height can also help with noise reduction. Once again, talk to your designer, and they can direct you on the best approach for reducing noise in your room. 

Radiologists need to get it right every day, every read. To make this happen, they need a room that works for their needs. The main premise of ergonomics is getting the room and the environment to fit to you and your needs. 

Proper room design can be achieved, but it means asking questions and finding what really works for you. Understanding reading rooms and proper design will help you achieve a more productive ergonomic work environment where you can be at your best.