Plano, TX, Aug. 2017—The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) recently announced the availability of the updated Industry Standards for the Prevention of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sonography. 

The Industry Standards for the Prevention of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sonography is the work product of a 2016 Consensus Conference on Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders involving 26 sonography-related professional organizations, accreditation bodies, and manufacturers. The participants, working collaboratively, and representing the sonographic professional community, updated the 2003 standards for use by clinical, academic, and manufacturing organizations. The objective of updating the standards was to produce a detailed resource that, when implemented, may assist in the reduction of WRMSDs among users of sonographic equipment.

The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, which offers three types of sonography credentials, formally endorsed the study during a recent meeting of its trustees.

To accompany the updated standards, the SDMS commissioned a white paper titled Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sonography. Authored by Susan Murphey, BS, RDMS, RDCS, CECD of Essential Work Wellness, the white paper is a resource for sonographers, educators, employers, and manufacturers who want to understand WRMSDs and their impact.  

The updated standards and white paper are available on the SDMS website, sdms.org, and will be published in the September/October 2017 issue of the Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography(JDMS).

The SDMS would like to thank the following organizations for their participation in the 2016 Consensus Conference on Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders.

• AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management †
• Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancement *
• American College of Phlebology
• American College of Radiology
• American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine *
• American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography *
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists †
• American Society of Echocardiography †
• Biodex Medical Systems, Inc.
• Cardiovascular Credentialing International *
• Carestream
• ECRI Institute *
• ESAOTE †
• Essential WorkWellness †
• GE Healthcare *
• Intersocietal Accreditation Commission
• Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular Technology
• Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• Medical Positioning, Inc. †
• Mindray/Zonare
• Philips
• Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography †
• Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound
• Society for Vascular Ultrasound †
• Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologist Section
• Sonography Canada *
• Sound Ergonomics †

Organizations that have formally endorsed the document are identified with the † symbol. Supporting organizations are identified with the * symbol. Some organizations have internal policies that do not permit endorsement of external documents. “Supporting organization” denotes a more limited level of review and approval than endorsement and means the organization considers the clinical document to be of educational value although it may not agree with every recommendation or statement in the document.

Organizations who did not participate in the Consensus Conference were also given the opportunity to endorse or support the updated standards and they are listed below. Organizations that have formally endorsed the document are identified with the † symbol. Supporting organizations are identified with the * symbol.

• Australasian Sonographers Association †
• Committee on Accreditation for Advanced Cardiovascular Sonography *
• Samsung †