Evaluation of the implementation of digital imaging in an x-ray department, 2001-2003 - After

The digitalisation of the hospital Södersjukhuset in Stockholm caused a coordination of the radiology department of Sachsska children's hospital, the unit for nuclear medicine at the department of Hospital Physics and the Physiological clinic to 'BildDiagnostiskt Centrum' (BDC) in connection to the emergency room. The radiology and picture activities are since the spring of 2002 gathered in new premises. The new department has changed the work organisation and the work spent on computer related work. The working conditions at the radiology department were studied with the aid of questionnaires and observations before and after the reform. The planning and introduction of the reform, the involvement of the employees, the setup of work in the new department and the employees' abilities to affect their work situation were studied at information meetings and at interviews with the staff management and the employees, both in groups and individually. The performed reform has brought many work environmental improvements, both regarding physical developments and mental and psychosocial relations. There was a satisfaction with the new system and the users felt confidant with the techniques. The employees found the work interesting and more stimulating then before and they enjoyed the company of their fellow employees. The work related stress seemed to have been reduced, so had the work load, even though the work load and stress still were demanding. To judge by the interviews, the department still could not use their full capacity at the time of the follow-up in 2003, why the work load might supposedly increased later on. Head ache and ache in the locomotive organs still remarkably comprising. The biggest discontents with the physical work environment were the ventilation and bad light conditions. The lack of daylight was experienced as very disturbing and so was that the work at the work stations was made in relative darkness. Other negative effects of the reform were isolation and the increased feeling of territory-mindedness among the job types. Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine how changes associated with the establishment of BildDiagnostiskt Centrum (BDC) affected the staff working conditions.