An overall employee satisfaction survey in our department showed that CT technicians experience a high workload in the daily clinical routine. To improve the technicians’ working conditions and to prevent human errors/suboptimal quality of exams, a project was started to reduce the workload experience of CT technicians.

A comprehensive survey was performed to analyze the workload experience of CT technicians(n=22). In addition, interviews with CT technicians were conducted to identify potential causes of a high workload experience. The causes of a high workload experience were categorized as; (1) incorrect planning, (2) unforeseen patient-related problems, and (3) other interruptions. The incidence of these problems were scored for one week. Based on these results the CT work process was redesigned. A second survey was performed four weeks after implementation of this new work process...

The comprehensive survey showed that 57% of the CT technicians experienced a high workload. The causes were: (1) Although the time scheduling of the CT exams was consistent with the actual time duration of the exams, there was not enough time scheduled for: The start-up preparations of the CT program (e.g. creatinine controls, CT room is ready for use, start-up of contrast injector). The average measured start-up time was 12 minutes more than was scheduled in the CT program. Emergency CT’s; 50% of the, allocated...

Evaluation and optimization of the CT work process reduced the experienced workload of CT technicians. Recommendations Minimize interruptions for CT technicians. Design a realistic planning system with ample scheduled time for emergency CT’s. Raise awareness to respect the new planning system. Listen to your CT Technician.

B. Spil, Operational Manager the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Department of Radiology. Plesmanlaan 121 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands Phone: +31205129016 mail: [email protected]