As technology advances, equipment become smaller and tailored towards specific health conditions. With these advancements paving the way for more functional equipment, they also become tailored to the skill of the healthcare professional using them. Sonograms have been around since the 1960s and its function has gone from obstetrics and gynecology to all other systems of the body. The equipment gradually become specialized as more skills and techniques are learned by the sonographer.
Salary and employment for sonographers
More than 58,000 sonographers were working in the US in 2013. They had an annual salary of 67,170, with certain areas in the US paying sonographs as much as $100,000 annually. These statistics are predicted to improve in the next ten years. If you plan on becoming a sonographer, there are a number of specialties you can choose from. You don’t have to confine yourself to abdominal or obstetric sonography. A complete list of job profiles for ultrasound specialties can be found through the link.
Musculoskeletal symptoms in sonography
One of the biggest problems cited by sonographers is musculoskeletal problems. With sonography using repetitive movements of the wrist and upper extremity, usually in one position, more often than not sonographers experience problems in the upper extremities and the lower back. Factors that contribute to work-related musculoskeletal disorders are:
Healthcare is quite popular for causing work-related stress and physical disorders because of the long work hours on foot and activities that involve a lot of lifting. Especially in states with big populations and hospitals that have a big bed capacity, working as a sonographer can be very difficult. Learn about the best and worst places to work as a sonographer.
- Static and awkward posture and positioning from the use of the transducer on the patient
- Persistent pressure and posture during the procedure
- Poor design or ergonomics of the sonogram and general workplace set-up
- Increase in exam scheduling (particularly for big hospitals)
- Height, weight, age, and gender of the sonographer
Healthcare is quite popular for causing work-related stress and physical disorders because of the long work hours on foot and activities that involve a lot of lifting. Especially in states with big populations and hospitals that have a big bed capacity, working as a sonographer can be very difficult. Learn about the best and worst places to work as a sonographer.
Addressing MSDs
According to the study, eighty percent of the respondents reported that they experienced musculoskeletal pain or discomfort during their career. Observing the most popularly used sonogram models revealed that most of them did not comply with the standard biometric guidelines that were ergonomically functional. Observation on the use of common sonogram models is an important step in identifying what needs to be changed in the design of newer sonogram models.
To address the growing number of complaints regarding musculoskeletal pain, accommodating the sonographer’s anthropometrics into the design of the sonogram system is quite important. Building a system that will not cause MSDs needs strict guidelines and protocols to create the most cost-effective but still functional design. The design has to be cost-effective in order for more companies to pick it up, beyond its usefulness and attractiveness to sonographers.
To address the growing number of complaints regarding musculoskeletal pain, accommodating the sonographer’s anthropometrics into the design of the sonogram system is quite important. Building a system that will not cause MSDs needs strict guidelines and protocols to create the most cost-effective but still functional design. The design has to be cost-effective in order for more companies to pick it up, beyond its usefulness and attractiveness to sonographers.