Remote Workstation Research Articles

Concept and development of a telemedical supervision system for anesthesiology in operating rooms using the interoperable communication standard ISO/IEEE 11073 SDC.

Discussion of a telemedical supervision system for anesthesiology in the operating room using the interoperable communication protocol SDC. Validation of a first conceptual demonstrator and highlight of strengths and weaknesses. The system includes relevant medical devices, a central anesthesia workstation (AN-WS), and a remote supervision workstation (SV-WS) and the concept uses the interoperability standard ISO/IEEE 11073 SDC. The validation method involves a human patient simulator, and the system is tested in an intervention study with 16 resident anesthetists supervised by a senior anesthetist. This study presents a novel tele-supervision system that enables remote patient monitoring and communication between anesthesia providers and supervisors. It is composed of connected medical devices via SDC, a central AN-WS and a mobile remote SV-WS. The system is designed to handle multiple ORs and route the data to a single SV-WS. It enables audio/video connections and text chatting between the workstations and offers the supervisor to switch between cameras in the OR. Through a validation study the feasibility and usefulness of the system was assessed. Validation results highlighted, that such system might not replace physically present supervisors but is able to provide supervision for scenarios where supervision is currently not available or only under adverse circumstances.

Optimizing radiology remote reading: leveraging technology to improve efficiency.

Remote work has been increasingly utilized in the profession of radiology over recent years. Setting up your individual workstation offers an opportunity to tailor it to suit your preferences without the restriction of a universal setup to accommodate multiple users. Important considerations when setting up a home workstation include selecting the optimal work location, choosing the proper desk and chair, and configuring an ideal computer monitor layout. The use of peripheral devices, such as programmable mice and hands-free dictation tools can improve efficiency and reduce repetitive strain injuries. This article also explores the use of smart home devices and programmable scripts using AutoHotKey to further streamline workflow and maximize the benefits of a remote workstation.

Aiding Automated Shuttles with Their Driving Tasks as an On-Board Operator: A Case Study on Different Automated Driving Systems in Three Living Labs

Highly automated shuttle vehicles (SAE Level 4) have the potential to enhance public transport services by decreasing the demand for drivers, enabling more frequent and flexible ride options. However, at least in a transitionary phase, safety operators that supervise and support the shuttles with their driving tasks may be required on board the vehicle from a technical or legal point of view. A crucial component for executing supervisory and intervening tasks is the human–machine interface between an automated vehicle and its on-board operator. This research presents in-depth case studies from three heterogenous living laboratories in Germany that deployed highly automated shuttle vehicles with on-board operators on public roads. The living labs differed significantly regarding the on-board operators’ tasks and the design of the human–machine interfaces. Originally considered a provisional solution until the vehicle automation is fully capable of running without human support, these interfaces were, in general, not designed in a user-centered way. However, since technological progress has been slower than expected, on-board operator interfaces are likely to persist in the mid-term at least. Hence, this research aims to assess the aptitude of interfaces that are in practical use for the on-board operators’ tasks, in order to determine the user-centered design of future interfaces. Completing questionnaires and undergoing comprehensive, semi-structured interviews, nine on-board operators evaluated their human–machine interfaces in light of the respective tasks they complete regarding user variables such as work context, acceptance, system transparency, and trust. The results were highly diverse across laboratories and underlined that the concrete system setup, encompassing task and interface design, has a considerable impact on these variables. Ergonomics, physical demand, and system transparency were identified as the most significant deficits. These findings and derived recommendations may inform the design of on-board operator workspaces, and bear implications for remote operation workstations as well.

How to promote teleworkers’ job satisfaction? the Telework Quality Model and its application in small, medium, and large companies

ABSTRACT With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, telework became widely used to ensure work activities and protect employee health. However, its rapid implementation has led to little attention to its quality and increased inequalities between companies and employees. The widespread adoption of telework has also challenged HRD departments in helping employees to be satisfied with their ‘new way of working’. From the post-pandemic perspective, challenges related to high-quality telework implementation and employee’s satisfaction should be addressed. This study investigates how the Telework Quality Model core resources are related to teleworkers’ job satisfaction, involving 1192 teleworkers from large companies (LCs) and small-medium enterprises (SMEs). A multi-group structural equation model was used to test the association between TQM core resources and teleworkers’ job satisfaction. The results showed that the four core components of TQM were correlated with employee job satisfaction. Three of the four TQM resources were significantly associated with job satisfaction among both LCs and SMEs, while the functional remote workstation component was not associated with job satisfaction among SMEs. The TQM proves to be a valuable tool for HRD professionals, especially in the post-pandemic phase, when there is a need to overcome implementation limitations and develop high-quality teleworking.

Telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders.

Telework has become considerably more common during the ongoing pandemic. Although working remotely may have numerous advantages, negative impacts on workers' health and safety should also be considered. Telework is a major contributor to the development or aggravation of work-related musculoskeletal disorders where unsuited workstation ergonomics, sedentary behavior, as well as psychosocial and organizational factors play a role. This paper aims to identify telework-related risks and their impact on musculoskeletal health as well as provide recommendations that may be useful in constructing future preventive measures. A comprehensive literature search regarding the topic has been performed. Teleworkers experience musculoskeletal pain and discomfort mostly in low back area, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. Poor ergonomic solutions when it comes to workstation design resulting in prolonged sitting in non-neutral positions contribute to the development and aggravation of musculoskeletal disorders in teleworkers. Working with inadequately placed screens and laptops and sitting in maladjusted seats without usual functionalities and ergonomic support is associated with musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. Extended working hours with fewer rest periods to meet increased work demands, social isolation, and lack of support from work colleagues and superiors as well as blurred work-home boundaries and omnipresence of work are commonly stated psychosocial and organizational factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Environmental factors such as poor lighting and glare, inadequate room temperature, and ventilation or noise, are frequently overlooked remote workstation risk factors. For a certain part of workers, telework will remain a common way of work in the post-pandemic period. Therefore, it is essential to identify telework-related risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and address them with timely preventive measures tailored to each remote workstation's risks and individual workers' needs.

The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat: The First and Last One Hundred Days of a New and Old Administration

Ghana has had general elections in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020. The next one is in 2024. Each administration comes with changes that are said to be inspired by ‘patrimonialism’ and ‘neopatrimonialism’. Objective: I reviewed how the successive political administrations of the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party have conducted their transitions to determine whether those actions were guided by principles of equity or patrimonialism/neo-patrimonialism. Method: I conducted extensive literature review about the conduct of the administrations in the first and last one hundred days to ascertain the approach used and the results each of the political parties created to determine if those measures were in consonance with the Constitutional provisions on human security and political transition. Result: The first 100 days of the incoming administration is full of joy and celebrations; interspaced with the inalienation of some of the winning party’s members with unmet needs. The review showed how appointees of the previous administration are disenfranchised or re-assigned to remote workstations. The typical Ghanaian President does not introduce laudable, economic transformative agenda but he is pre-occupied with reprisals against the appointees of the previous government. Conclusion: The first one hundred days offers the ‘thrill of victory and the agony of defeat’1. New cases of post-traumatic stress disorders associated with loss of relevance and social status emerge. The outgoing Presidents overburden the system with operational cost for new programs initiated in the eleventh hour of their departures.

Remote workplaces as a determinant of working conditions in education during COVID-19

ABSTRACT. The lockdown resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic forced employees of various vocational and social groups into working from home. The article presents the results of the research on the organisation of remote workstations in the education sector conducted in scope of an international remote work project. Unlike the dominant research topic in the literature (well-being, WLB), our research focuses on a newer endeavor: analysis from a workplace design perspective. Statistical methods such as structure indices and correlations were used in the research. The results presented concern the organizational level of the surveyed positions and the impact of external factors on employee preferences in scope of being sent away, including position financing, position time, and organizational efficiency. The study showed a specific profile of remote work of education employees. The results also indicate employees' expectations regarding the financing of physical space and household equipment by employers, as well as the legal regulations of the right to disconnect (R2D). These are the preconditions for the strategic, permanent use of remote work as a tool for organization and management because when working remotely, new forms of the educational function must be developed

Ergonomics of E-Learning Workstations and the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders-Study among University Students.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) has increased significantly in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a fundamental change in the lifestyles, ways of learning and working patterns of the general population, which in turn, might lead to health consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the conditions of e-learning and the impact of the learning modality on the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms among university students in Poland. This cross-sectional study included 914 students who completed an anonymous questionnaire. The questions covered two time periods (before and during the COVID-19 pandemic) and were aimed at obtaining information about lifestyle (including physical activity using the modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire, 2007 (IPAQ), perceived stress and sleep patterns), the ergonomics of computer workstations (by Rapid Office Strain Assessment, 2012 (ROSA) method), the incidence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms (by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, 2018 (NMQ)) and headaches. The main differences between the two periods were statistically significant according to the Wilcoxon test in terms of physical activity, computer use time, and severity of headaches. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in MSD (68.2% vs. 74.6%) and their intensity (2.83 ± 2.36 vs. 3.50 ± 2.79 points) among the student population (p < 0.001). In the group of students with MSD, there was a high musculoskeletal load, due to the lack of ergonomic remote learning workstations. In future, a thorough study should be carried out, and there is an urgent need to raise students' awareness of arranging learning workstations according to ergonomic principles in order to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal problems.

Telework quality and employee well-being: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) forced organisations to implement intensive telework for many of their workers overnight. This scenario was completely new, and the emergency caused by COVID-19 created the possibility of experimenting with new ways of working with an unknown impact on employee well-being. Drawing on previous literature, we defined a model of telework quality consisting of the following four core domains: agile offices within organisations, functional remote workstations, flex-timeand engaging management. We identified two high-quality and low-quality telework profiles using latent profile analysison a data sample of 2295 insurance and financial sector employees. Demographic, occupationaland procedural characteristics were associated with the probability of being in the positive or negative profiles. Our results showed that employees' emotional exhaustion and work engagement levels were related to telework quality. This study suggests that organisations need to consider the quality of telework to effectively adopt new ways of working that foster employee well-being.

Real-Time Structural Health Monitoring and Damage Identification Using Frequency Response Functions along with Finite Element Model Updating Technique.

Throughout service, damage can arise in the structure of buildings; hence, their dynamic testing becomes essential to verify that such buildings possess sufficient strength to withstand disturbances, particularly in the event of an earthquake. Dynamic testing, being uneconomical, requires proof of concept; for this, a model of a structure can be dynamically tested, and the results are used to update its finite element model. This can be used for damage detection in the prototype and aids in predicting its behavior during an earthquake. In this instance, a wireless MEMS accelerometer was used, which can measure the vibration signals emanating from the building and transfer these signals to a remote workstation. The base of the structure is excited using a shaking table to induce an earthquake-like situation. Four natural frequencies have been considered and six different types of damage conditions have been identified in this work. For each damage condition, the experimental responses are measured and the finite element model is updated using the Berman and Nagy method. It is seen that the updated models can predict the dynamic responses of the building accurately. Thus, depending on these responses, the damage condition can be identified by using the updated finite element models.

COVID-19 incidence among nonphysician healthcare workers at a tertiary care center–Iowa, 2020–2021

Background: Whether working on COVID-19 designated units put healthcare workers (HCWs) at higher risk of acquiring COVID-19 is not fully understood. We report trends of COVID-19 incidence among nonphysician HCWs and the association between the risk of acquiring COVID-19 and work location in the hospital. Methods: The University of Iowa Hospitals &amp; Clinics (UIHC) is an 811-bed, academic medical center serving as a referral center for Iowa. We retrospectively collected COVID-19–associated data for nonphysician HCWs from Employee Health Clinic between June 1st 2020 and July 31th 2021. The data we abstracted included age, sex, job title, working location, history of COVID-19, and date of positive COVID-19 test if they had a history of COVID-19. We excluded HCWs who did not have a designated working location and those who worked on multiple units during the same shift (eg, medicine resident, hospitalist, etc) to assess the association between COVID-19 infections and working location. Job titles were divided into the following 5 categories: (1) nurse, (2) medical assistant (MA), (3) technician, (4) clerk, and (5) others (eg patient access, billing office, etc). Working locations were divided into the following 6 categories: (1) emergency department (ED), (2) COVID-19 unit, (3) non–COVID-19 unit, (4) Clinic, (5) perioperative units, and (6) remote work. Results: We identified 6,971 HCWs with work locations recorded. During the study period, 758 HCWs (10.8%) reported being diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these 758 COVID-19 cases, 658 (86.8%) were diagnosed before vaccines became available. The location with the highest COVID-19 incidence was the ED (17%), followed by both COVID-19 and non–COVID-19 units (12.7%), clinics (11.0%), perioperative units (9.4%) and remote work stations (6.6%, p Conclusions: Strict and special infection control strategies may be needed for HCWs in the ED, especially where vaccine uptake is low. The administrative control of HCWs working remotely may be associated with a lower incidence of COVID-19. Given that the difference in COVID-19 incidence among HCWs by location was lower and comparable after the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, facilities should make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory as a condition of employment for all HCWs, especially in areas where the COVID-19 incidence is high.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Abstract 8880: Utility of Telemedicine 3d Transesophageal Echocardiography in Interventional Procedures in Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Physician Learning

Background: Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) is a diagnostic tool in cardiac procedures, but COVID-19 has made utility challenging. Training junior (JR) attendings and fellows in 3DTEE guidance cases in procedural rooms make it tough to maintain adequate social distance. Collaboration Live (CL) is an application on the ultrasound machine that allows for live communication and access to real time images with a remote user. The study aims were to assess the usefulness of CL during 3DTEE guided procedures and its impact on physician learning. Methods: 3DTEE was obtained in 8 cohorts ranging 4 - 52 years of age on the EPIQ ultrasound machine. CL was used in transcatheter atrial/ventricular septal defect closures, transvenous pacemaker lead placement, and Fontan fenestration closure. 3DTEE was directed by a senior (SR) 3D attending over CL at a remote workstation while a JR attending, cardiac fellow, and echocardiographer performed 3DTEE in the procedural room. A CL post survey was given . Wait time from received page to the start of TEE, TEE duration, fluoroscopy time, absorbed X-ray dose, and saved amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) was noted. Results: A JR attending was in 8/8 cases. CL decreased reliance on SR attending and improved independence in 86% of cases, and no change in 14%. A fellow was in 6/8 cases. CL decreased reliance on SR 3D attending and increased independence in 67% of cases, and no change in 33%. A SR attending was remotely present in all cases. CL allowed flexibility for SR attending in 89% of cases and no flexibility in 11%. Preferred learning skill, comfort performing/giving results over CL, learning/teaching impact, remote user wait time, reduced radiation exposure, and saved amount of PPE are shown in Table 1. Conclusions: CL is valuable in 3DTEE guidance procedures. It increases cost savings by reducing PPE and promotes learner independence. CL allows flexibility and reduces radiation exposure for remote users.

Features to Consider When Selecting Displays for Remote Reading

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically increased the use of remote workstations for medical image interpretation. This trend has been discussed nationally on radiology news sites, at meetings, and in medical journals [1-3]. To facilitate this change, the use of nonmedical, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) displays has become more common. When selecting displays, both technical and practical limitations should be considered. The overarching goal should be to maximize the information presented to the reader in a consistent manner across all devices.

Trainee and Faculty Perceptions of Remote PACS Workstations and Next Steps in a Large US Academic Medical Institution

ObjectiveRemote workstations were rapidly deployed in our academic radiology practice in late March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although well-received by faculty, there were concerns for the impact on resident education. Materials and MethodsSurveys of the radiology trainees and faculty were conducted online seven- and thirteen-months following workstation deployment as a part of a quality improvement project to assess the impact on radiology education and faculty wellness, as well as assess the desired trajectory of remote work in an academic setting. ResultsThe majority of trainees (52%) reported the implementation had negatively impacted resident education, greatest among lower level residents (p < .001). This perception did not change despite interventions and perceived improvement in teleconferencing.Greater than 75% of radiologists with remote workstations reported improved wellness and lower stress levels compared to the onsite radiologists. The majority of all respondents voted to continue or expand remote work following the COVID-19 pandemic in both surveys. ConclusionsOnsite teaching is important for the education of residents, particularly for lower-level residents. However, the adoption of a hybrid model in an academic setting may prove beneficial for faculty wellness and recruitment of the next generation.

Creating from Anywhere with an Artist-Driven Approach to Workstation Deployment

<italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Netflix is a prolific producer of visual effects and original animated content. To meet that demand, the studio needs to attract the world’s best artistic talent. Artists like to create groundbreaking entertainment instead of worrying about getting access to the software or source files they need. Production infrastructure engineering (PIE) at Netflix designed remote workstations tailored to artists’ needs that make it easy just to start working, whether in an office in Mumbai or at a house in Vancouver. The technical needs of fast-paced productions can vary vastly and change rapidly. PIE not only needed to make it easy for artists to have a one-click experience, but also for developers to control and customize that experience. This is a technical case study—not just on the how, but on the why. Why were technologies selected, what challenges did they present, and how is this different from an off-the-shelf solution? And where does the industry go from here?</i>

From Stationary to Remote: Employee Risks at Pandemic Migration of Workplaces

The first lockdown due to COVID-19 in the year 2020 created a particular scenario that forced a change to telework among diverse professions and social groups. This article presents the results of research carried out among samples of Polish, Lithuanian and Spanish remote workers concerning working conditions in organizations and at home, and the potential impact of some professional hazards from home-based telework. On the contrary to earlier published papers on pandemic-induced telework that focused on how the limitations at home of first-time remote workers impacted on their well-being and work–family balance, our research contributes to a more recent endeavor that focuses the analysis on the work design perspective. The results of the survey indicate that employees felt more stressed and in conflict at their remote workstations when they had to telework during the lockdown, and that this negative output was significantly related to the deterioration of some working dimensions like space, quality and design but not to the perception of professional hazards from home-based telework. According to our research, the forced situation seemed not to be a favorable factor for implementing changes in light of the insufficient technical and organizational preparation of employers as well as the employees’ mental preparation. It should be necessary to update sequentially the results of the epidemic-induced telework and conduct research for various stages of the pandemic and the subsequent economic recovery. This could help popularize remote work as one of the tools of the labor market in the future and as a tool for treating labor resources as an element of sustainable development.

The Role of Imaging Informatics in Disaster Preparedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Disaster preparedness is a major but necessary undertaking for every health care facility. The 2019 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) provided an unforeseen opportunity to compare the response of two radiology departments, University Health System A (UHSA) and University Health System B (UHSAB). Preparing for this disaster was unique since though unexpected, was thought to be detected early enough to allow for sufficient preparation. Unlike many other disasters which are short-term, single events, this has been an on-going event. Changes at both health systems included workflow alterations for exposure reduction to faculty, trainees, and staff. UHSA was able to quickly divert workflow to previously deployed home workstations, while University of Utah Health Sciences Center required 2 to 3 weeks to procure and initialize enough remote workstations to significantly affect departmental operations. Other measures such as universal masking, temperature screening at facility entrances, virtual appointments, and physical barriers were used by both systems to limit patient-to-patient, patient-to-staff, staff-to-patient, and staff-staff physical interaction to help decrease exposure risk. The goal of these preparations is to allow each department to fulfill imaging needs in support of the organizational clinical mission with the flexibility to adapt to the unique and dynamic nature of this disaster.

Remote Monitoring Digitizes Asset-Integrity Management

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 197168, “Digitalize Asset-Integrity Management by Remote Monitoring,” by Mohamed Sahid, ADNOC, prepared for the 2019 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, 11-14 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Monitoring of corrosion in process pipelines has always been of paramount importance in ensuring plant-asset integrity. Similarly, steam traps play an important role in ensuring steam quality and, thus, the integrity of critical assets in the plant. The complete paper discusses these two aspects of monitoring asset integrity - real-time corrosion monitoring and real-time steam-trap monitoring - as implemented by the operator. The authors highlight the importance of digitization by means of implementing wireless technology and making data available in remote work stations in real time. Real-Time Corrosion-Monitoring System Corrosion coupons and electrical resistance probes are among the most-tried and -tested methods to monitor corrosion, but the authors detail shortcomings of these systems, focusing their efforts on the option of using nonintrusive ultrasonic sensors for corrosion monitoring. Fixed ultrasonic thickness (UT) monitoring systems measure a localized thickness of vessel wall or pipe through the use of sound waves. They are the fastest method to measure wall thickness and wall loss reliably. The wall thickness is calculated from the reflection of the ultrasonic signal at both external and internal surfaces. UT systems normally include a transducer and a pulser/receiver. The type of transducer used for this application is the ultrasonic transducer, which can be either piezoelectric or variable-capacitive. The pulser generates short electric pulses of energy at a constant rate, which are converted by the transducer into short, high-frequency ultrasonic sound pulses. These pulses are then directed into the material. Any discontinuation or impurity in the path of the ultrasonic sound wave will be reflected and received by the transducer, transformed into an electric signal, and amplified by the receiver to be projected onto the display (in the case of portable UT instruments). Depending on the intensity shown on the display, information about the impurity or discontinuity, such as size, orientation, and location, can be derived accurately. The shortcomings of using portable UT sensors have been overcome by the introduction of permanent UT sensors, which provide wall-thickness measurement continuously at one location in real time. Because these sensors remain fixed at one location for years, it is possible to analyze corrosion at a single point over time, thus detecting early corrosion onset. Real-Time UT Gauging. The operator installed the real-time corrosion-monitoring system in its offshore associated gas (OAG) unit. A UK-based vendor provided UT sensors along with data-management and -viewing software to support data interpretation. Twenty locations were identified in various plants of the OAG unit on the basis of criticality and previously recorded corrosion levels.

Critical Steps in Data Management During a Crisis.

Data management is essential in a flow cytometry (FCM) shared resource laboratory (SRL) for the integrity of collected data and its long‐term preservation, as described in the Cytometry publication from 2016, ISAC Flow Cytometry Shared Resource Laboratory (SRL) Best Practices (Barsky et al.: Cytometry Part A 89A(2016): 1017–1030). The SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic introduced an array of challenges in the operation of SRLs. The subsequent laboratory shutdowns and access restrictions brought to the forefront well‐established practices that withstood the impact of a sudden change in operations and illuminated areas that need improvement. The most significant challenges from a data management perspective were data access for remote analysis and workstation management. Notably, lessons learned from this challenge emphasize the importance of safeguarding collected data from loss in various emergencies such as fire or natural disasters where the physical hardware storing data could be directly affected. Here, we describe two data management systems that have been successful during the current emergency created by the pandemic, specifically remote access and automated data transfer. We will discuss other situations that could arise and lead to data loss or challenges in interpreting data. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry

MAIN TASKS AND ALGORITHMS OF WIRELESS NETWORK SECURITY SUPPORTING AUTOMATED SYSTEM

Safety and service quality in wireless networks has recently become an important subject of active research, which is caused by the growing demand for supporting data packages. Without adequate security, organizations avoid using wireless networks. Security issues are an important obstacle for wireless network adaptation. Consequently, security of wireless networks is an important area, which requires reaction, if such networks are widely used. It is necessary for the researchers of this field to identify open problems and to provide relevant solutions to them. Each of such attempts makes the wireless network a bit more secure. The present work aims at the development of a number of measures that would contribute to increasing the safety of wireless networks and through which it would be possible to manage remote workstations.