Proper ergonomics can have a significant impact on a Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) workforce. In an environment where staff often spend long hours at desks, proper ergonomics can prevent issues like eye strain, back pain, and repetitive strain injuries, which can lead to fewer sick days and improved morale. As a result, employees can maintain better focus and productivity, ultimately improving accuracy and efficiency in tasks like billing, coding, and claims processing. This leads to faster turnaround times, fewer errors, and a more effective RCM process.
When working at a desk for long periods, it’s easy to find myself sitting for hours without standing up or looking away from the screen, often falling into the habit of poor posture—slouching in a chair with my neck hunched forward and ankles crossed under the desk. Nothing about this is ergonomically proper.
Despite this, it’s surprising that I don’t (yet) face many of the health issues associated with poor ergonomics, such as musculoskeletal disorders (like repetitive strain injuries), eye strain (including vision problems, dry eyes, and headaches), mental fatigue, poor circulation (which can increase the risk of conditions like deep vein thrombosis), or metabolic issues (such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease).
We all know that ergonomics is important, but I’d be willing to bet that less people have a solid practice for this than people that do.
Ergonomics Assessment
I took a close look at my personal workstation. I’m slouched back in my not-particularly-comfortable chair, with my neck hunched forward and my ankles are crossed, feet resting on the shelf under my desk that is full of books; my body weight is resting only on my tailbone and the backs of my shoulders.
My thighs should be parallel to the floor with my feet resting flat on the floor (or a footrest if you’re shorter than average, like me, so your feet aren’t just dangling). I should also be sitting up straight in a chair that is supportive of my spine and the space underneath the desk should be free of items that reduce space for my legs and feet.
My shoulders are relaxed, and my elbows are close to my body (Two things I’m doing ergonomically correctly), but my hands should be at or slightly below elbow level and my wrists should be straight. My keyboard and mouse are on the same surface and within easy reach (two more things ergonomically correct!); if my chair had armrests, they should be positioned in a way that achieves all the above.
My monitor should be directly behind my keyboard, about 20-40 inches straight in front of me, with the top of the screen being at, or slightly below, eye level; if I were to use bifocals, it should be 1-2 inches lower.
Other objects, in addition to mouse and keyboard, should be kept close to minimize reaching, far items should be reached by standing, and when using a phone, it should not be cradled between head and neck.
Proper Ergonomics: Key Principles for Comfort and Health
Active Body Osteopathy shared some great tips and a visual in an article “Workplace Ergonomics”. Simple adjustments to your monitor and chair position can make a big impact.
It is also recommended to follow the 20-20-20 rule – look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes – as well as the following every hour:
- Get up and walk for 5 minutes
- Shift your position once or twice
- Work standing up (if possible) for 15-30 minutes
- Stretch your hands, fingers, and arms for 1-2 minutes
Conclusion
Now that I’ve learned about and evaluated my own ergonomics, I’ve made some changes to reduce my risk of ergonomic-related health problems in the future, as well as reduce my fatigue and improve my mental health – both contributing to my overall wellbeing. I’ve also set calendar reminders to get up and move and became an accountability partner with some of my friends.
Not everyone may need to, or be able to, do a full makeover like I did but realistically, there probably aren’t many that have as much “opportunity” of ergonomic improvement as I did. With the intent of focusing on the solution as opposed to the problem, what can YOU do to improve your workspace and practice of ergonomics?
Author: Stephanie Young, Analyst II Revenue Cycle Management, Healthrise
