Ergonomic Training with Hands-on Courses

ErgoPractice News – October 2014

SurgiTel’s core mission is to help clinicians work efficiently and safely through high-performance, ergonomic loupes, and lights. Part of this mission involves bringing people the experience of how next-generation designs can enhance a professional’s work and how ergonomically built loupes and lights can enhance a professional’s long-term health. Therefore, for over the last 20 years, SurgiTel has partnered with educators throughout the country to help facilitate hands-on labs where attendees not only learn about specific procedures in their field but also have the opportunity to learn more about tools for performing these procedures better and with better ergonomics.

Both new loupe users and those with years of experience alike learn things they didn’t know about loupe ergonomics when experiencing SurgiTel loupes in the lab. And when working with SurgiTel LEDs alone without an overhead light, they get to see their work in a whole different way.

Throughout the years, attendees to the hands-on labs supported by SurgiTel have experienced the SurgiTel difference in the following ways:

Attendees have:

Experienced how SurgiTel’s unique, custom declination angles reduce stress and strain on the users’ neck and upper back, thus reducing the risk of chronic neck pain 1
Found how SurgiTel loupes compare to inexpensive loupes which only hinder the professional’s work and health through poor resolution images and improper declination angles 2
Noticed how overly bright and expensive overhead lights are not necessary to illuminate cavities and how proper ceiling lights are enough to illuminate outside the working area 3
Seen how the beam quality of all-LED headlights is not the same 4
Found how extreme-cool LED headlights to create eye strain and may be harmful to long term eye health, while color-balanced LEDs are more comfortable and safer to the eyes 3
Experienced the improvement of their vision and working postures by using SurgiTel’s ergonomic loupes and LED headlights with color-balanced, uniform beam patterns 5

There are several benefits to attendees testing SurgiTel at a hands-on course. One is the opportunity to experience magnifications beyond the more common, basic magnification powers (2.5x and 3.0x). Attendees can discover what they haven’t been seeing if they have lower-powered loupes. Another benefit is while they are using loupes and headlights for hands-on procedures, ergonomic trainers may help users use loupes and lights correctly.

During a recent wet lab, one doctor described to me how he realized the SurgiTel headlight he was using had provided all the light required for his work. He realized that he did not need the overly bright overhead lights installed where he normally works. He told me how the overhead lights were requiring near continual adjustment by his assistant, reducing his team’s effectiveness and slowing down their work. He described that by using one custom SurgiTel loupe and LED headlight, he could reduce expenses and inefficiencies (cost of light, electricity, and time spent adjusting the overhead’s beam direction).

Another two doctors commented on how their own traditionally-designed fixed loupes were not meeting their ergonomic requirements. They realized this only after completing the course using SurgiTel loupes with custom declination angles. They were used to their head tilts being greater than 20° forward and using their neck/spine/shoulders straining to hold this non-ergonomic posture. During the course, they experienced SurgiTel’s custom declination angles and were working with their necks in a comfortable position with their heads balanced above their spine. They enjoyed working without stress, strain, and pain which allowed them to concentrate on their work. They both purchased SurgiTel custom ergonomic loupes at the event.

Many of you are currently using SurgiTel’s ergonomic loupes and headlights. You may have never experienced non-ergonomic loupes. If you have an associate who is suffering from work-related pain, you may suggest they contact SurgiTel for more information. Also, if you or an associate currently host or teach a hands-on course(s), contact me and I can help coordinate Ergonomic Training with Various Hands-on courses.

References:

Chang, BJ, Key Factors for Ordering Custom Loupes: Part 1, Declination Angle as the Key Ergonomic Factor, ErgoPractice News, April Issue, 2014, https://surgitel.com/key-factors-for-ordering-custom-loupes-part-1-declination-angle-as-the-key-ergonomic-factor/
Chang, BJ, Demystifying Custom Loupes, ErgoPractice News, October Issue, 2013, https://surgitel.com/demystifying-custom-loupes/
Chang, BJ, Fundamentals of Clinical Illumination and LED Technology, ErgoPractice News, November Issue, 2013, https://surgitel.com/fundamentals-of-clinical-illumination-and-led-technology/
Chang, BJ, Advances in SurgiTel Headlights: Design Considerations of LED Headlights for Color Accuracy and Eye Safety, ErgoPractice News, March Issue, 2014, https://surgitel.com/advances-in-surgitel-headlights-design-considerations-of-led-headlights-for-color-accuracy-and-eye-safety/
Chang, BJ, Improving Your Working Posture and Work Environment, ErgoPractice News, August Issue, 2014, https://surgitel.com/improving-your-working-posture-and-work-environment-in-the-school-of-ergopractice-part-3/