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Technology is advancing really fast in the Healthcare field.  So fast in fact, that sometimes the virtual world takes over the real world.  Adaptability is an important factor to consider when installing technology in Healthcare facilities.  We may tend to forget that technology has to be used by human beings.  As an example, let’s take Katie, the chief nurse in the ICU.  She’s a small woman with her 5 feet 2 inches.  Last year she injured her neck.  Now she struggles finishing her shifts without pain.  She‘s a very dedicated nurse and she would like to be able to offer the best care to patients whose lives depend on her.  She‘s the eyes and the arms of the medical team ultimately saving lives on an everyday basis.  We could help her a lot by improving her workspace not only for her but also for her colleagues.  It cannot be a one-size-fits-all solution.  We must think that many members of the medical team will be using the same workplaces.  I had the opportunity to visit an ICU unit in a small town’s hospital.  Although everyone was so passionate about giving their absolute best to the patients, you could see the discomfort in their eyes after an eventful weekend. Telemetry tools allow them to facilitate continuous surveillance of numerous critically ill patients all at once.  The monitor panel is the main focus in the ICU unit and must be adapted to different uses.  The most relevant information must be readily available 24-7, and easy to access in emergency situations in which the response of the health worker is critical in life and death situations. One of the key elements in designing control centers for healthcare cannot only rely on the elements connected to the patient and on technology to save lives.  It should encompass all health professionals using them and provide them with the best tools and height-adjustable tables with ergonomics applications. Often, 24-7 telemetry have to be followed closely by a single nurse who also single-handedly manages multiple patients. These mission-critical control center are heavy duty workstations meant to provide comfort throughout the 10-12 hours shifts with maximum adaptability for the women’s 5th Percentile (4’10’’ Height) all the way to the men’s 95th percentile (6’3’’ Height). Feel free to reach us if you need any help designing emergency, telemetry or any ergonomic station that will improve your day to day work.

In recent years, we have all increasingly sought to adopt a healthy lifestyle and have exercised to improve our health and lifestyle. We have carefully selected our food at the grocery store and checked their calorie intake. You may have heard the expression: “Sitting is the new smoking”; Indeed, although the percentage of smokers in the population is declining year after year, a trend is emerging to the effect that the adverse effects of the use of tobacco products seem to have changed and are now in our too sedentary life, especially in our workplaces. According to a study by the “American Medical Association” (AMA), we estimate the time at which we are in position sitting day to 7.7 hours. This statistic may even go up to 15 hours for some individuals. A simple and increasing way to reduce the time in which we are sitting is by using a height-adjustable workstation. Indeed, statistics show that standing past an hour, compared to sitting, will burn fifty additional calories.[i] Remaining sitting during long periods of time also makes us more vulnerable to develop diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.[ii] According to the latest study by Alan Hedge, the optimal solution is shown in the matrix below, a period of 30 minutes of work should be distributed as follows; 20 minutes sitting, standing 8 minutes and 2 minutes where we’re moving and stretching.

Focus Flex®, the Revolution in Training Rooms Focus Flex® is basically a computer desk that can transform itself into a multifunctional desk when needed, in a few seconds. Yes, it’s that easy! This desk is equipped with an internal actuator (an electric mechanism) that supports either one or two monitors. It offers the possibility to raise the LCD screens up when their use is required and to hide them back again with the simple push of a button. The LCD monitor can be positioned at the desired height, in order to adapt to the user’s height and it can also be used by people with disabilities. The computers can either be hidden inside the structure or supported under the work surface (as per the picture). A tray under the LCD screen has been conceived to store the keyboard and mouse. Also, when in a closed position, the door can be locked to secure the IT equipment and therefore protect the material from damage and theft. This model is offered in various sizes from 48’’ to 72’’ wide and a depth that varies from 30’’ to 40’’, depending on the user’s needs. All Focus Flex® desks are built to order and can be customized as desired. With today’s growing needs for flexibility, the Focus Flex® is the ideal solution for any computer lab, training and education environment, lobby, reception, or even your personal workstation. Day to day usage reduces the need for new buildings and increases the return on investment in the facilities. It optimizes floor space, secures the IT equipment, offers a multipurpose platform, and increases ergonomics. How much does this beauty cost, then? Even though it is equipped with a state of the art electric actuator and controller, a high-pressure laminate work surface, a 14 gauge Steel structure, and CPU supports, these desks can be acquired for as low as between 1000$ and 2000$, depending on the configuration. The Focus Flex® also comes with a lifetime warranty, while the actuator system is covered for a period of two years. For more information, feel free to contact us at 1-800-455-8450.

L’émission The Current, présentée sur la radio de la CBC, faisait récemment état du fait que les gens qui travaillent dans un environnement de bureau passent généralement beaucoup trop de temps assis. En effet, l’idée de travailler debout, à l’aide de surfaces ajustables, commence à faire son chemin, et les experts semblent s’entendre sur les bénéfices évidents qu’elles procurent dans un environnement de travail moderne. À titre indicatif, voici quelques unes des conclusions tirées par les intervenants interviewés dans le cadre de l’émission. Témoignages des employés de Statoil, une compagnie à Saint-John, au Labrador L’utilisation de tables à hauteur ajustables brise la monotonie du travail quotidien. Les employés prennent un certain temps à s’habituer à la surface ajustables, mais se sentent beaucoup moins tendus, au bout du compte. Les gens s’amusent à monter et à descendre la surface de travail durant la journée de travail, sans pour autant déranger leurs collègues. Les standards mondiaux changent, selon la designer invitée, Mette Johannsen, de Mette Designs En Norvège, il serait désormais obligatoire de pouvoir travailler à la fois debout et assis, au courant d’une journée. Elle souligne l’importance de la culture de travail, qui permet de conserver de l’énergie jusqu’à la fin de la journée. Il est de la responsabilité de l’employeur de rendre le milieu et l’espace de travail invitants. Le corps humain doit bouger au courant de la journée; il faut donc créer un environnement où les gens sont invités à se mouvoir. Le retour sur investissement, en termes de surfaces ajustables, est rapide. Considérations de Santé, selon le Docteur invité, Mike Evans, de l’hopital St.Michael Plusieurs problèmes de santé sont liés au fait de rester assis tout le long de la journée. On observe des changements physiologiques importants chez les personnes qui passent beaucoup de temps assis. On ne peut pas compenser pour ces changements en allant au gym à la fin de la journée. Les surfaces ajustables offrent une opportunité rêvée de pouvoir, à chaque heure, passer une vingtaine de minutes debout. Tendances d’environnements de bureau, au fil du temps, selon l’éditorialiste invitée, Nelda Rodger, du Azure Magazine Historiquement, les postes ajustables étaient seulement offerts aux personnes qui souffrent de problèmes chroniques, mais la tendance change. On est passé des environnements très bruyants, dans les années 60, au cubicules, pour aujourd’hui observer une tendance vers la mobilité, notamment dans les bureaux avec surfaces à hauteur ajustable. Ceci s’explique par le fait que l’on comprend maintenant que le corps humain n’est pas conçu pour rester dans une seule et unique posture sur une longue période de temps.

People who are old enough to remember the arrival of personal computers in the workplace and at home, at the end of the 70s, intuitively understand the CPU’s revolutionary character. The productivity increase potential seemed limitless at the time. And with reason. That being said, in order to fully harness the productive power of those technological tools, one needs to understand the importance of ergonomics – by fine-tuning the work environment to the human body’s needs. It’s not only a question of tools but a question of knowing how to use those tools in the most natural way possible, from a physiological standpoint. Experience tells us that a mediocre understanding of ergonomics will unmistakably lead to eye fatigue, migraines, musculoskeletal disorders… and so on, and so forth! It’s not surprising to learn then that, according to experts, improvements made on the CPU intensive workers’ environment leads to an increase in productivity of roughly 10 %. This is why it’s all the more surprising to see that while most of us spend countless hours in front of a computer screen on a daily basis, we don’t necessarily often ask ourselves how our comfort could be improved. There are tons of tools at our disposal. And monitor arms – or LCD/LED screen supports – are more popular than ever and well worth looking into as an entry solution to our day-to-day woes. The monitor supports come in all shapes and sizes, in terms of quality, and in terms of the number of screens supported by the mechanism. On most models, screens can be moved at will; one can change their height, make them pivot, extend their reach… the possibilities are endless, granted one has the necessary budget. Depending on the needs – does the user have 1 or 8 screens, for instance – one can easily go from $100 to $1,500 per set up. Once the choice has been made, here are some tips that should help you increase your productivity and comfort in front of your screen. Position the screen right in front of you, so that the upper edge of the screen is roughly half an inch higher than your gaze. Your screen should be at arm’s length when you are comfortably seated. Try not to set the screen too high or too low; your back should be straight and your eyes looking slightly downwards when you’re looking at the center of your screen. Make the screen pivot so that it stays relatively parallel to you. Ideally, try to minimize the amount or reflections on the screen. Change your position during the day and take short breaks often. Recalibrate the arm if you change position, in order to stay comfortable. Take the time to stretch regularly. In essence, your productivity is not only a function of the tool which you are using but of the use, you make of it. An effective workspace is an ergonomic workspace, adapted to the user. And ergonomics begin with one of the most crucial interfaces of all, the monitor. All you need is a little bit of support, and everything will be clearer!

Headaches and pains can cause huge losses in productivity in most workplace environments. By adhering to some simple ergonomic principles, businesses are likely to solve most if not all of their migraine-related problems. Health experts agree: migraines are responsible for, at the very least, billions of dollars in lost productivity each year, in the United States. The same could arguably be said of the States’ cousin to the North, in relative terms. The phenomenon is known as attending work while being sick or in pain, and in essence doing little to no work, is so prevalent that a keyword was coined specifically for it: presenteeism. Obviously, the cause of this phenomenon can sometimes be attributed to factors that cannot be controller by the employer. That being said, a significant number of headaches are a direct result of the workers’ immediate environment while they’re on the clock. A workstation that is not suited for long uninterrupted hours, seated in front of a computer, would be a good example. This is where ergonomic principles should kick in. These principles are at the heart of what most specialized technical furniture specialists aim to do with their work. By harmonizing the work and the work area – which is, in essence, what ergonomics is all about – these businesses are working towards getting rid of unnecessary eye fatigue, headaches, neck and back pains, tendinitis, etc. Generally speaking, most of the pains caused by an inadequate workplace are due to bad posture. An employee’s work focus should be straight in front of him, with little to no contortion required. Head and neck should be straight when the gaze is locked on the screen. Arms should be bent at an angle of at least 90 degrees with the surface, with the forearms held parallel with the keyboard shelf, when the user is typing on the keyboard. And even then, one should try to get up and move a little at least 2 or 3 times per hour. Most of these problems are easy to correct if you’re using the right tools and if you pay attention to the important details. Ergonomic products, such as monitor supports, keyboard and mouse supports, ergonomic chairs, and adjustable surfaces, are all steps in the right direction when one wishes to minimize the risks of presenteeism. From a more global standpoint, the so-called workplace “climate” plays an integral part in ergonomics. Controlling the luminosity, noise, and temperature of the immediate environment should not be a luxury, but a prerequisite if one aims to get the most out of its workforce, while also lowering the number of aches and pains. The harmony between mind, body, and work may have a cost, but it’s certainly way more affordable than presenteeism, or absenteeism for that matter!