October 6, 2006

MGH Sonography Task Force established

The staff of the MGH Occupational Health Service has established a new MGH Sonography Task Force representing Obstetrics Ultrasound, Radiology Ultrasound, Endocrine Fertility, Echocardiography and the Vascular Lab. The task force was created to examine ways to prevent work-related injuries among hospital sonographers.

"Nationally, close to 80 percent of all sonographers report job-related injuries," says Tucker O'Day, MSPT, program manager for Ergonomics. "MGH Occupational Health is doing a great deal with each of the departments represented by the task force to protect MGH sonographers from such injuries. Our aim is to look into ways to prevent injuries and keep our sonographers as healthy and comfortable as possible at work."

In honor of the role sonographers play in the medical community and to create awareness of ergonomics, October is celebrated as National Sonography Awareness Month and National Ergonomics Month. The MGH Occupational Health Service will host a lecture on "Ergonomics and Sonography" with special guest Joan Baker, founder of the Society for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, Oct. 18 at noon in the O'Keeffe Auditorium.

For more information, call O'Day at (617) 726-6548.

Rosie Doig, Vascular Lab sonographer