Medical Transcription Desks for Productivity

Medical transcription desks are a very important piece of the medical transcriptionist's equipment. We will open your eyes to what you must know.

To start with you need to ensure the desk and the rest of the furniture fit the person using it.

Consider if your chair is the right size for you and if your mouse is the right size for your hand.

These factors affect you, but most importantly your desk and chair combination.

Medical transcription desks positioned correctly help to avoid occupational overuse problems. After all time is money in this fantastic fast growing business.

With our technologically driven work environment, we need to utilize ergonomically designed and height-adjustable furniture.

You want medical transcription desks that complement the human body and create a healthy and comfortable environment for you and/or your team.

In the past, desks were designed as if we were all of identical height, weight and identically proportioned. Now with the time that you spend at your computer, your equipment needs to be designed to avoid any risk to your body.

Time and money spent determining the best medical transcription equipment will be repaid ten fold with productivity savings in the future.

Tips From The Medical transcription Specialist Team

Many people think that by getting a flat screen monitor they will have a lot more desk space. The fact is that the space is behind the screen, not in front.

If you put your flat screen too far away, the user will start to lean towards it, resulting in upper back, neck and shoulder pain.

Keep the top of the screen level with your eyes and the screen only a full arm's length away!

When workstations don’t adjust, users have to compensate by contorting their posture, creating body strain. This all adds up to lower productivity and less income for the medical transcriptionist.

It is important to take the time and make sure that medical transcription desks are checked ergonomically.


Checklist of Medical Transcription Ergonomic Issues

1. Can you easily reach the keyboard and at a height that your arms are parallel to the floor?

2. Does your desk provide a level or lower view of your monitor?

3. Is your keyboard height adjustable and is there ample room for both the mouse and keyboard?

4. Is the height of your chair adjustable and comfortable?

5. Are you aware of the need for and do you schedule regular breaks?

6. Have you considered lighting and how to overcome any glare issues?


An ergonomic desk offers mechanical adjustments in order to maximize user comfort and efficiency. You can now purchase an ergonomic desk with a large height adjustment providing you the option to work while standing or using the desk in the more common “sit-down” position.

A computer desk is a variant of the ergonomic desk and has an adjustable keyboard tray as well as sufficient desktop space for handwriting. Holes are integrated in the design to allow for routing cables and there is provision for a monitor shelf.

These days you will find many computer desk shapes and forms. A rolling chair table type configuration offers mobility and from this has developed the gyratory computer tables which can even be used over a bed.

With the long periods of time spent at a computer by the medical transcriptionist, it is worth considering all the medical transcription desks available and what is the best option for you.


Checklist for Purchasing a MT Chair

1. Armrests alleviate pressure on the back although they may interfere with lower desks. Adjustable width and height help with support for various tasks like writing or reading. Armrests can ease neck and shoulder tension and help prevent carpal tunnel syndrome.

2. The best position when typing is the thighs horizontal with the ground, feet flat on the floor and the wrists should be straight. You will want a chair with adjustable height.

3. Look for chairs providing both mid-back and upper-back support with tilt mechanism. It is best to have your back slightly reclined while seated at medical transcription desks.

4. Look for a rounded or waterfall edge at the front of the seat. This prevents cutting off circulation by the seat catching behind the knees. Between the seat pan’s front edge and the back of the knees you should be able to fit three to four fingers. Allow the seat to extend 2-3cm (1 inch) either side of the hips for the best comfort.

5. Make sure you consider the options for fabric and colour. Look for a durable, ventilated material that breathes and yet that can be cleaned easily too. Depending on fabric, it is often easier to keep a darker colour clean.

6. A chair on wheels that swivels will avoid excess stretching and twisting of your spine. Chairs with a five point base will not tip when reclined.

7. When purchasing a chair, do some research. Everything from back support to armrests can make a difference. Look at all options and remember to match the chair to the person using it. Some people even prefer spine rest chairs. Some of the above will vary for those chairs.


Note for Employers

If you are an employer, you need to be aware of your Health and Safety legal responsibilities. Educate your transcriptionists in correct use of their equipment.

The United States standards and legal responsibilities are set by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Your staff retention will be helped as they know you are an employer who cares about their well-being. It is more expensive to train up new staff than to keep your existing experienced staff.

There will be higher work productivity and less time lost for staff with strain injuries.

The medical transcription desks that you choose are an important factor in productivity and contentedness of you and/or your staff.

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