WRMSD Grand Challenge

ASE is a Proud Partner in the Grand Challenge to Stop Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) Resulting from the Performance of Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound

This movement, that started in 2019, is supported by an alliance of ultrasound organizations, including ASE, is bringing leading groups, activists, educators, researchers, and others together to tackle this intractable crisis and find solutions. The goal to improve the impact, metrics, coordination, funding, and communication necessary to deal with the WRMSD crisis.  ASE has contributed funding, staff, and volunteer time to these efforts.

Pain from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) is a reality for many sonographers, physicians, and other medical professionals performing ultrasound examinations. Our grand challenge mission is to stop WRMSD’s and help these essential clinicians lead pain-free fulfilling careers and live productive lives.

Join us in helping stop WRMSD injuries!

Want to learn more? Watch this video explaining the main issues and prevalence!

Stop Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) – video

GOAL

  • To STOP work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) resulting from the performance of diagnostic medical ultrasound

FACTS

  • Up to 90% of sonographers, physicians, and other medical professionals performing ultrasound examinations work in pain caused by work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD).
  • WRMSD’s cost employers $120 billion each year in direct and indirect costs.

ACHIEVEMENTS & INITITATIVES

  • WRMSD Grand Challenge’s Longitudinal Research Study – June 2021
    ASE recently provided significant funding for this study that is documenting COVID-19 and the impact on WRMSD’s, this study is being conducted by Dr. Kevin Evans at The Ohio State University in conjunction with the WRMSD Grand Challenge. This research seeks to gather longitudinal data from a large cohort of physicians, sonographers, and vascular technologists to improve the understanding of health (wellness) of ultrasound users. The WRMSD Grand Challenge believes that the study will yield important information about risk of longitudinal progression of work-related musculoskeletal injuries in sonography users, as well as other factors that affect well-being. If you have questions about the survey, please email: sonography.wellbeing@osumc.edu.
  • ASE supported the 2020 WRMSD Grand Challenge Virtual Solution Hack-a-Thon
    The WRMSD Grand Challenge Virtual Solution Hack-a-thon consisted of four student teams comprised of students from multiple educational disciplines that competed to present a solution to eliminate WRMSDs.  ASE’s member, Ali, was part of the winning presentation!
  • ASE Webinar: Characteristics and Consequences of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Cardiac Sonographers: A Look Back and a Path to Progress.
  • 1st WRMSD Grand Challenge Design Summit – September 2019
    The 2019 Design Summit was a day long work program where progressive thinking professionals met to evaluate and improve the impact, metrics, coordination, funding, and communication necessary to deal with the WRMSD problem. ASE had three volunteers attend this summit to provide important feedback.

The alliance is looking for new partners to help us achieve these goals.