Radiologists play a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and they rely heavily on medical images to make their assessments. However, the long hours radiologists spend looking at computer screens can lead to eyestrain, which can interfere with their ability to see the images clearly and accurately. As a result, it’s important to reduce eye strain in any ways you can, including through a reading environment that is conducive to optimal screen viewing.

Choosing the right manufacturer for your radiology imaging desks involves many factors, including cost, warranty, ROI, ergonomics, durability, ease of use, and IT considerations such as managing cables and swapping out equipment. Given all the issues involved, it’s important to include all stakeholders in the decision making. In fact, if you don’t, you can not only offend a colleague but make a mistake and end up hearing “I could have told you” from those excluded.

Can sit-to-stand imaging desks increase productivity in radiologists? According to some evidence, yes. In fact, a controlled environment study published in the journal Radiology found that radiologists who used sit-to-stand desks for 12 weeks had a 10% increase in productivity, as measured by the number of studies read per hour. The study also found that the radiologists who used sit-to-stand desks reported feeling less fatigued and more comfortable at the end of the workday.

When choosing desks for a telemetry room, it's important to consider the specific needs of your staff and equipment along with the space available. By taking the time to choose the right desks, you can create a comfortable and functional work environment that will help your staff provide the best possible care for your patients.

If there’s one thing we all know it’s this: Imaging desks and radiology equipment are heavy and hard to move. Is the answer to put these desks on wheels (casters) so you can simply push them around? Well, no. Casters cause two problems: they raise the desk height (which can be uncomfortable for users) and they add instability (which can be catastrophic for equipment). As a result, I believe smooth-bottomed furniture glides perform better in most radiology reading rooms. Read on for why. 

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.