At the November 2023 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting in Chicago, the old advice of “see with your eyes not with your hands” does not apply. While exploring the exhibits for the latest and greatest in radiology, don’t miss the Xybix booth. Our friendly healthcare sales team will encourage you to touch and feel everything on our imaging desks, from the height-adjustable table to the personalized lighting and climate controls to the expert monitor arms.

In radiology, a primary benefit of speech recognition (SR) software is the time savings. With SR, radiologists can turn reports around faster, leading to increased efficiency, higher productivity, and better patient outcomes. Experts assured Radiology Today that voice solutions are “100% essential to their workflow because that time savings is so critical,” and that “Accurate and rapid turnaround of reports can ultimately improve the treatment and outcomes of patients with complex conditions requiring complex treatments.”

Over the last 25 years, I’ve talked to a lot of people, including radiologists. I’ve learned what they need in an imaging desk—things such as sit-to-stand flexibility, easy ways to manage large arrays of monitors, cable management, task lighting, and bias lighting. And then I always enjoy talking to radiologists about features they probably didn’t know they needed.

As I write this from my bright and sunny office, I need to remind myself that radiologists do not have the luxury of sunshine and light at work while reading at their PACS workstations. This is a problem because the dim rooms they work in contribute significantly to burnout levels in radiology of more than 50%. In addition, working for long periods in low levels of ambient light can disrupt circadian rhythms and lead to depression—which doesn’t really help on the burnout front.

Over the last few months, various news stories have caught my eye because of their relevance to dispatch centers. My first takeaway from these stories is the importance of attention to detail in everything from mats to lighting to ergonomics. And my second takeaway is that sitting for long hours is no good for any of us! Read on for details.

With the 24/7/365 use, the moving parts, and the bells and whistles, do dispatch consoles last more than 10 years? For high-quality dispatch consoles, they not only last more than a decade but can still look like new and perform at their best. Recently, Xybix checked in on a client, the Onondaga County 911 Center, for feedback on their 10-year-old consoles. Four dispatchers with a combined 43 years of experience serving one of the largest counties in New York State shared their thoughts in video.

Ergonomic imaging desks are designed to help radiologists stay comfortable and productive while they work. But not all ergonomic desks are created equal. Some are more customizable than others, which is important for many reasons related to the health, safety, and morale of radiologists. And being customizable is not enough—the process of adjusting the desk needs to be so easy that it’s second nature to the radiologist coming on shift or needing a boost throughout the day.

Think about how edgy you feel when you leave your phone in the car or plug it in a few feet away at, say, a coffee shop. Imagine if your belongings were always out of your possession like this, while you’re busy taking critical dispatch calls. This is where personal lockers come in—and they offer plenty of other benefits as well.

Workstations designed specifically for radiology equipment—and, more importantly, for radiologists—are essential equipment in healthcare facilities. In many cases, the desks are used and abused 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This is why you need to select imaging desks that are built to last.

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.