Medical record workers in clinics and hospitals face a high risk of developing musculoskeletal and skeletal disorders due to the nature of their work, which involves extensive data recording and electronic processing (from patient registration to discharge).
A team of scholars from Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM), led by Dina Fitriana Rosyada, in collaboration with Dr. Nur Rokhman, consisting of students Rafael Radya, Marco Aland, Kevin, Dhea, and Syva, has developed an ergonomic risk detection tool for office workers. Ergonomics, as widely known, is the study of human behavior in relation to the work environment.
As the head of the research team, Dina Fitriana Rosyada explained that musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common occupational injuries, often marked by back pain. According to her, the human spine is not designed to remain bent over a computer for eight hours a day, which can lead to disc compression, muscle strain, and chronic discomfort.
“While Electronic Medical Records (EMR) offer significant benefits, they also bring new consequences for users, particularly those who work long hours or repeatedly engage in data management tasks in front of a computer,” she said at SV UGM on Tuesday (Oct. 14).
Rosyada elaborated that the research, conducted at Muhammadiyah Hospital Yogyakarta, successfully developed a computer vision-based tool integrated with the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method. This tool monitors workers’ postures while operating computers and automatically analyzes ergonomic risks after each work shift.
“The system produces an individual ergonomic risk profile for each worker, which is categorized as low, medium, or high risk of musculoskeletal and spinal health issues,” she explained.
To ensure accuracy and real-time analysis, the device employs Artificial Intelligence (AI) through computer vision technology. This enables the system to detect upper body inclinations, including slouching or forward bending, while working at a computer.
“We are grateful that this tool has proven useful for medical record staff, as it helps them evaluate and adjust their sitting posture while working. Without this tool, prolonged poor posture could pose serious risks to their musculoskeletal and spinal health, issues that often go unnoticed,” Rosyada added.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya