Xybix Blog

As you look for new radiology imaging desks, keep one goal in mind—better patient outcomes. Can you really achieve that with a piece of furniture? We think so—as long as that piece of furniture is ergonomically designed for the comfort of the radiologist and engineered to expertly manage all the equipment. And as long as the room itself is designed by an expert for optimal workflow and collaboration. In fact, the National Library of Medicine put it quite bluntly: “Burnout among radiologists may be mitigated by a physical work environment that promotes wellness.”

What is the difference between various imaging desks? And how have they evolved to become innovative technology today? 

My name is Mike Graham, and I'm the Director of Key Healthcare Accounts with Xybix. I’d like to take you on a journey of ergonomic imaging furniture over the last 2 ½ decades. The evolution can somewhat be compared to the telephone. Starting with the rotary desk phone and evolving into the latest and greatest iPhone. 

Using speech recognition (SR) technology in a radiology lab can drive better health outcomes by increasing accuracy and productivity while simultaneously reducing stress and lowering costs. It’s good for the patient, good for the radiologist and good for business—a no brainer, right? But like all technology integrations, it needs to be done with care.

I recently got a strong reminder of why I love my job as Director of Key Accounts Healthcare for Xybix. I was at the airport in Austin, Texas, sporting a Xybix golf shirt with the company’s core values printed on the back. A fellow traveler stopped me, asked if she could take a picture of our values, and exclaimed, “Does such a company exist?!” I gave her my card and proudly said, “Yes it does!”

How many times have you bought a larger phone and then had to buy a larger case? Or a larger purse or fanny pack? (If Dr. Rick will let you keep a fanny pack, that is.) That’s what happens with technology—it gets bigger and better, but we need bigger and better spaces to accommodate it. So it goes with telemetry labs.

Front-line workers in healthcare are simply burned out, and I don’t need to tell you why. Meanwhile, many of those in healthcare who could work from home did during the worst of the pandemic…and they’re not all that interested in going back. Experts are predicting that the Great Resignation, already alive and well in healthcare, will gain momentum in the fall.

Remember way back in 2016 when the iPhone discontinued the headphone jack? “Wires are so over,” it seemed to pronounce to all of us busy untangling those white headphone wires. “Wireless is the future.”

Many facilities will request casters on imaging desks so that they can easily access the equipment or move a desk for cleaning purposes. Let’s be realistic; if the imaging desk is designed for easy access to the LCD monitors and CPUs, and it has a good cable management system, there is really no need to move the desk away from the wall. To emphasize my point, how many times have you actually seen the desks moved away from the wall? As far as cleaning goes, how often do the facility staff members move the desks away from the wall to clean? The answer is the same for both questions: rarely.

Important news! Have you heard?

Anthro is discontinuing the manufacture
and sale of its imaging and radiology products. After December 31st Ergotron Anthro will no longer accept orders for Carl's Tables and Steve's Station.

Here is the letter that you may have received. To view it in it's entirety, click here. 

Will you be looking at imaging desks at RSNA? If the answer to that question is yes, I recommend looking at all the major manufacturers, asking some appropriate questions and looking for some key differentiating features.