Colorado: Extra time for sonographers cut injuries, improves service

By Kyra Kitlowski May 20, 2005

Colorado—An extra 15 minutes might not seem like much these days, but it means a great deal to sonographer Sue Cameron and her patients.

"It feels like we have time to talk to our patients instead of rushing them out the door," Cameron said.

The extra time also represents a victory for Colorado sonographers, whose job duties put them at risk of injury because of awkward positioning and repetitive motions they carry out each day while performing ultrasounds.

In December, management and union members stepped out of what some described as a brutal, 14-month issue resolution process. A team of sonographers asked management to consider making changes to the master schedule due to the overload of patients they were seeing and the risk of injuries they faced because of it.

This is the same issue management and union managers could not see eye to eye more than two years ago.

"Two years ago we came to an impasse," said department supervisor Steve Mattson. "We got to a place where we just couldn't agree. And that was that."

But this time it was different. Management agreed to eliminate one patient slot per day from the master schedule by adding three new ultrasound units in the region, which increased overall capacity. Furthermore, they added an extra 15 minutes to obstetric ultrasounds—a procedure sonographers typically found rushed. They also hired a full-time supervisor who will update equipment, oversee scheduling and enforce proper ergonomics, and purchased new ergonomic equipment.

Two positions are currently open, but management expects they will be filled by the summer.

"The decision to modify the master schedule came after much discussion, deliberation and input from outside consultants," Mattson said. "Labor had direct design input into the master schedule and management ended up with a happier, more engaged workforce."

It was a great success for someone like sonographer Marisa Rogers, whose determination to improve safety came after she had shoulder surgery due to a workplace injury and was afraid she might not work again.

An estimated 80 percent of sonographers will be injured on the job during their career, both management and ultrasound technicians agree.

"It was a pretty grueling process," Rogers said of issue resolution. "At times it felt like we weren't getting anywhere. But I think everyone is really happy with the outcome and it's going to be better for everyone in the end."

"It's a slow process and the tendency is to want to go in there and speed it up, but you can't," Mattson added. "It took a lot of effort—from both sides, but we were able to overcome a lot of points of contention."

Moreover, sonographers underwent an extensive ergonomic review. An outside consultant was called in to view the ultrasound technicians at work, videotaping them and pointing out areas of improvement.

One technique Rogers learned is to have the patient move towards you, instead of stretching your body in awkward position to reach the patient—a tough lesson to follow if you are pressed for time, she added.