| 1 | How many employees file workers compensation claims for carpal tunnel syndrome? | For every fifteen hundred employees, you’ll have about 1 claim a year for carpal tunnel syndrome, the typing disease. Each costing about $25, 000 in out of pocket payments or surgery. For a million employees, the 700 claims amount to a million six hundred thousand dollars a year. 2% of workers’ comp premiums are allocated to repetitive motion, or carpal tunnel, totaling about $1.6 Billion from the largest 25 workers compensation insurance carriers. Interossei System can avoid most, if not all of those costs. Nationwide the Congress reported these repetitive injuries cost $20 Billion a year, most or all of which can be avoided. If you define unnecessary or non productive effort as waste, then half of all data entry every day is wasted. Wasted energy on the keyboard is $10 an hour, $80 a day, on 100 million keyboards, or $800 million a day, times 200 days a year, wasting $160 billion in a year of labor. |
| 2 | Do computers have a carbon footprint? How much electricity does a computer use in one hour? | Yes, computers have a carbon footprint, which is identifiable or measurable. If the data entry wants to perform the same work in half the time, the computer could be turned off, after efficient data entry. Computer carbon energy use is based on energy used. A complete desktop uses an average of 200 Watt hours (Wh). This is the sum of the average consumption per hour of the computer itself (171 W), the internet modem (10 W), the printer (5 W) and the loudspeakers (20 W). ). A computer that is on for eight hours a day uses almost 600 kWh and emits 175 kg of CO2 per year. A laptop uses between 50 and 100 Wh, depending on the model. If it is used for eight hours a day, consumption therefore varies between 150 and 300 kWh/year. That corresponds to CO2 emissions of between 44 and 88 kg per year. Source Wikipedia. For those using computers for data entry – email, writing, inventory, news reporting, blogging – you can accomplish the same data entry in half the time, saving 20 to 80 kg of CO2 per year. The national savings from 120 million computers, used half as much, ranges from 2,400 million Kg, to 9,600 million kg. Assume 1 million kg = 2 million pounds = 1,000 tons x 24 = 24,000 tons, or 2 x 24 = 48,000 tons of CO2 . |
| 3 | How do over the counter pain medicines perform their medical therapy? | Over the counter pain medicines work (i.e. use a methodology to accomplish a purpose) by masking the pain, numbing the nerves, without treating the underlying cause of the pain or numbness. Underlying causes of pain are infections or injuries. These medicines are colloquially or informally known as Pain killers, and they don’t cure injuries. They don’t prevent disease in infections. Over the counter pain medicines don’t kill bacteria. Over the counter pain medicines are usually invasive, they have to be swallowed. But they help with head aches, and body aches. They have limits on consumption, because the chemicals in pills interact with the liver, kidney, heart and lungs. The chemicals in the pills may interact with diabetics, weight loss or gain, pregnancy or reproductive functions , allergies, and everything people drink or eat. Interossei System may be compared to or to be like an over the counter pain medicines, because Interossei System prolongs the onset of symptoms, and reduces the severity of symptoms of CTS as compared to use of the QWERTY layout. One underlying cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, is the sliding of flexion and extension ligaments scrapping the median nerve. But unlike invasive pain medicines, Interossei System doesn’t interact with the liver, or vital organs because it isn’t invasive. Once the ‘typing disease’ symptoms gets past the pain killer, there is not much more for alternative treatments. Alternative treatments are discussed further, but they are either non surgical, such as changing careers, splints, posture or surgical. Interossei System has identified, by clinical trial, that the cause of the pain, numbness and tingling in the median nerve, associated with office work on the computer, can be directly linked to flexion and extension typing on the QWERTY layout keyboard. The QWERTY layout is probably the primary cause of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Medicines such as those offered for sale, sometimes without prescription, usually referred to as over the counter medicines, are aspirin (Excedrin) acetaminophen (TYLENOL®), caffeine (Excedrin), ibuprofen (Advil®), phenacetin (withdrawn by FDA 1983). |
| 4 | What are the FDA terms to bring a treatment to market. | The FDA terminology of permission to make claims of diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prevention, therapy, was adopted from Congressional acts over a period of time. Drug claims are approved. Medical device claims are cleared. Tests claims are authorized. Powered communication systems claims are allowed. |
| 5 | What are the costs of bringing over the counter pain medicines to market? | The cost of drug development is the full cost of bringing a new drug to market from discovery through Phase I-III clinical trial, capital costs of the long period (10 or more years), to claim approval or allowance. The average cost per drug developed and approved by a single-drug company was $350 million, and for companies that approved between eight and 13 drugs over 10 years, the cost per drug went as high as $5.5 billion, due mainly to geographic expansion for marketing and ongoing costs for Phase IV trials and continuous monitoring for safety. The Food and Drug Administration mandates a 3 phase clinical trial testing that tests for side effects and the effectiveness of the drug with a single phase clinical trial costing upwards of $100 million. [ The processes of “discovery” and clinical trials amounts to approximately 12 years from research lab to the patient. Wikipedia. |
| 6 | Who can use the powered communication system ? | Insurance carriers, banks, financial customers. Ergonomic businesses. Manufacturer of keyboards and laptops which use QWERTY layout Disability therapists, Occupational & Physical. Hand surgeons and hospitals, researchers. Government – education districts, schools, lots of employees. Pharmacy chains & retail, Walmart, CVS, Target, Woolworth. Associations of therapists, hospitals, physicians. Conventions, trade shows, military. |
| 7 | Why a new layout, instead of QWERTY? | The Smithsonian National history Museum of Dvorak simplified keyboard. 1995 The Case Against QWERTY |
| 8 | Where does the typist place fingers? |  Left Index fingers on the E and, right index over the O, see the beige keys. To order a stand alone keyboard with the Interossei layout, order directly HERE. |
| 9 | What have independent studies shown? | CTDNews and the Pittsburgh study in 1995 including the Veteran’s Administration and University of California Sacramento. Interossei System is safer than QWERTY or DVORAK. Reduces distance fingers travel by about half, and flexion and extension about Alternative key layouts safer than QWERTY. See pages 0396-0398 read what others say about QWERTY. 1995 CTD Clinic layouts safer FR brochure PDF |
| 10 | Is pain important? | National Pain care Policy Act of 2008 Lots of good quotes for CTS; Senators and Representatives. Half of the adults in the country have monthly chronic pain. |
| 11 | Who benefits? | Any typist or keyboarder spending 20 minutes at a stretch or several stretches at the keyboard more per day or diagnosed with arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. Or typing disease. Any keyboarder who wants to double productivity. Any novice who wants to learn keyboarding in hours instead of weeks or months. Any worker who wants to learn marketable skills and move up from novice wage. Any student who wants legible reports and higher marks on their reviews, homework. |
| 12 | How does the typist benefit? | Demonstrate with either – one arm raised in front to the square with the opposite hand lightly gripping the forearm of the raised arm, with the pinkie finger on the elbow, and the fingers of the hand lightly gripping the forearm, and the thumb around the forearm.. With the arm raised, at the end, close the fingers of the hand to the palm, and feel the flexors and extensors at the elbow flex and expand, at the elbow, stating. “Notice the feeling of the muscles at the elbow? Most don’t know that your fingers tips are connected to the elbow by tendons. Now open the hand with the arm raised, and wiggle the fingers.” Feeling the movement at the elbow with the gripping hand, you’ll notice much less, movement if any. “Notice that you can wiggle your fingers without feeling at the elbow. Because the work has been moved from the flexor extensor tendons to the interossei and lumbricals muscles in the hands. These 2 sets of muscles between the fingers, or phalanges, can move the fingers without moving through the carpal canal. This work avoids the carpal tunnel, and avoids sliding tendons next to the median nerve, and slows irritation.“ |
| 13 | How long does it take to learn the new layout? | Some have learned to touch type in 2 hours or 20 to 25 pages of text. Allow 8 hours of practice to memorize the layout. We assume normal dexterity, the ability to button a shirt, or tie a shoe lace. |
| 14 | How hard is it for QWERTY trained typists to learn the new layout? | Only 12 of the 33 non numeric keys have been moved, so 21 remain the same as before, and these 21 do not need to be relearned. The keys which are both the same in QWERTY and AsInRedHot are top row QWYUP[]. Middle row ASDHL, Bottom row ZXCVBM,./ |
| 15 | What if I go to a PC which does not have Interossei? Inconvenient. | Options: 1) We’ll provide software that can be loaded with TheOrdinals, to remap the keys. If you have internet access, you can download the mapping software for either Macintosh or Windows operating systems. Save the software on a flash drive and keep it on your key chain. 2) Order a 2nd or 3rd powered communication system , or more, to have them when you travel. 3) You can still use the QWERTY layout (although it is unnecessary). |
| 16 | What does the system layout do? And How? | Prolongs the onset of symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, and pain, of Carpal tunnel syndrome. Prolonging the onset of pain, is similar to the action of aspirin or pain killers, which do not treat the under lying malady, but helps with the reduction or slowing the onset of pain. How? Move work from extensors and flexors to the interossei and lumbricals muscles of the hand, bypassing most of the motion thru the carpal canal and next to the median nerve. |
| 17 | Was QWERTY designed as the best layout? | In 1872, QWERTY was intended to be hard and slow to type, so that keys won’t jam and stick when the typists press the keys, problems of pulleys, and hammers, and springs, on the mechanical typewriter, which was corrected as of 1902. Efficiency was the goal, in so far as the typist did not have to stop typing and pull back the hammers jammed on the platen. |
| 18 | I mistakenly assumed QWERTY was helpful? False assumption. | How could it be? when the colon and apostrophe are found on the most easily reached home row? Or that a the J ‘Jay’ key is the 25th least used letter in English, and the ‘K’ or ‘Kay’ letter is the 23rd least used letter in English. But, according to the century of typing, by the turn of the 20th century, the mechanical problems of pulleys, and hammers, and springs, had been solved, so the typing for the next century settled into a system which is laborious to learn, hard to use, difficult to remedy, painful to operate, all unnecessary, all wasteful, all dangerous. |
| 19 | I don’t think it really makes that much a difference? Minimalist. | There is one-third less effort in typing. Half of the distance your fingers travel is avoided. The NIH study measured the flexion and extension of the fingers comparing layouts and measured about one-third increase in flexion of fingers using QWERTY as compared to Finger Relief. (1995 Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center, The Veterans Administration Medical Center at Pittsburgh, and researchers from the University of California Sacramento, paper delivered at the annual meeting of the engineers. *** Another calculation shows that the QWERTY fingers double their distance and flexion movement as compared to Interossei . For many, the reduction in distance and movement, by using the Interossei System layout, is sufficient to get through the day without pain. |
| 20 | Why the selection of letters for the home row? | The letters E and T are a quarter of the usage in English. The other letters, in general order of usage, are N.R.O.I.A.S.D.H.L. These letters together comprise another 60 to 62 percent of the usage in English, so the total on the home row amounts to about 85 to 87 percent of letters most frequently used. These are the high frequency letters, such as are guessed in Wheel of Fortune (TV show). |
| 21 | What is the relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome, cumulative trauma syndrome? | Usually the same (synonymous,) with Carpal tunnel as a subset of the CTS (Carpal is Latin for Wrist, and there are 7 bones in the wrist, through which the median nerve, and ten flexor tendons, so it is described as a canal or tunnel.) The cumulative trauma means the sliding of the tendons next to the median nerve causes a trauma, sort of like picking at a scab, which irritates, and eventually wounds the median nerve. Cumulative meaning hundreds or thousands of short slides, of a millimeter or two, over and over. A syndrome is a pattern of symptoms to identify the malady, as was applied to carpal tunnel in the late 1930s, but little heard of until 1990s. |
| 22 | What is the relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome, and repetitive stress injury (RSI)? | Usually the same (synonymous,) with Carpal tunnel as a subset of the RSI. (Carpal is Latin for Wrist, and there are 7 bones in the wrist, through which the median nerve, and ten flexor tendons pass, so it is described as a canal or tunnel). The repetitive stress injury means the sliding of the tendons next to the median nerve is an injury, sort of like picking at a scab, which irritates, and eventually wounds the median nerve. Repetitive meaning hundreds or thousands of short slides, of a millimeter or two, over and over. A syndrome is a pattern of symptoms to identify the malady, as was applied to carpal tunnel in the late 1930s, but never heard of until 1990s |
| 23 | How bad is CTS? | One half million diagnosed cases a year. The number one hand surgery for decades has been carpal tunnel release, wherein the dorsal carpal ligament is cut to release pressure from the bones on the median nerve. Cost of about $20 billion a year, per the National Pain care Policy Act of 2008. The number one workers compensation claim malady for 2 decades. Increase workers comp claims, increase absenteeism |
| 24 | How would symptoms of CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME affect Dental Care? | One case study of a patient with severe CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME who was warned by her cardiologist to care for her teeth, to avoid dental carries dripping infectious materials from her teeth. The problem was the CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME so crippled her fingers, she was unable to floss her teeth, which she believed allowed her teeth to get cavities, or carries, which increased her risk of heart disease and infection. So anything that would prolong the onset of symptoms, especially pain of CTS, allowed her to floss better. |
| 25 | How would symptoms of CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME relate to diabetes? | One documented case study of a patient with severe CTS, had diabetes. To the extent that one continues to aggravate the median nerve, and attempt to work through the pain, the response is the ingestion of pain drugs which will affect other drugs used to treat diabetes. Every drug reacts with every other drug. “Sixty to seventy percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage. The results of such damage include impaired sensation or pain in the *** hands *** carpal tunnel syndrome.’ [70% of 18.2 million people or 12.4 million Americans]. |
| 26 | How would symptoms of CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME affect breast self examination | One documented case study of a patient with severe CTS, rated 100% Social Security Disability, was not warned to find another method of breast self examination. Consequently, after about 10 years of CTS, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, advanced stage, and died within a year of the diagnosis. It is reasonable to assume that the reduced tactile sensation in her fingertips would have inhibited her ability to perform breast self-examination. Early detection of breast cancer leads to earlier treatment, and a longer survivability rate. |
| 27 | How would symptoms of CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME affect other maladies? | One documented case study of a patient with severe CTS, had malady breast cancer. If the patient took drug to reduce the pain for CTS, it would affect malady breast cancer treatment. |
| 28 | How would symptoms of CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME affect other maladies, such as upper extremity stress? | To the extent the stress reduction benefit of Interossei System reduces the reliance on painkillers, it is beneficial “A standard reference tool used by the medical profession is so inaccurate that doctors across the country are accidentally killing patients by the thousands each year ***.” Physicians use [“equi-analgesic conversion tables”] to calculate the proper dose when a patient is switching from one “opioid” painkiller to another. The tables display equivalent doses of various drugs. Dr. Lynn Webster of Lifetree Clinical Research in Salt Lake City said, “They’re notoriously inaccurate. In fact, I call them ‘the death table.’ Patients who need pain medication frequently switch from one drug to another. Doctors often prescribe a change because of side effects such as nausea. Patients also switch drugs because they develop a tolerance for a given painkiller or because insurance companies will not continue covering an expensive drug. Nationally, an estimated 15,000 people die each year from overdoses of opioid pain medicine. That includes such familiar painkillers as Oxycontin, oxycodone, Percocet, morphine, and methadone.” Deseret News Apr 1, 2012, citing April Pain Medicine, the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. |
| 29 | What are the terms used for CTS? | MRI is magnetic resonance imaging. NCVS – nerve conduction velocity study – puts electrical probes in ends of median nerve, in the arm, about 18 inches apart and timing the electrical conveyance – a slowed conveyance means an abnormal median nerve function, probably a pinched nerve. CTS – carpal tunnel syndrome. RSI – repetitive stress injury. CTD – cumulative trauma disease or disorder. Ergonomics is the science of people characteristics to design things for safety and effectiveness. Therapy – remedial treatment. Interface – common boundary between two bodies. Technology – application knowledge for practical purpose – applied science; powered communication system – equipment. Interossei – small muscles from the metacarpals inserted into the phalanges. Lumbricals – small muscles in the palm. |
| 30 | How would use of QWERTY compare with an efficient keyboard layout? | The former AT&T used different keyboards in its Baby-Bells from the 1960s to the mid-1980s. These were used by their operators, such as long distance and caller information. Those using QWERTY had a standard of workers compensation claims and absenteeism. Those using the DVORAK (a layout with an efficient home row) had half the rate of absenteeism and half the rate of workers comp claims. The only variables were geographic locations and the layouts. AT&T abandoned DVORAK and returned to QWERTY, assigning the difference to work ethic, that some parts of the country (where it happened to be DVORAK) had a higher work ethic, so as not to claim workers comp or cutting work or filing workers comp claims, than the other locations in the country. Related by a Ph.D. from the Bell labs in New Jersey about 1995. |
| 31 | What about my ergonomic chair, table, wrist support, wrist wrap, keyboard? | Whatever works for you, go for it. Comfort. Your nerves tell you what they like, thru your muscles. But with knowledge. Whatever you do, by reducing flexion and extension in the wrist and forearms, will prolong the onset and reduce the severity of symptoms of CTS. |
| 32 | I’ve already had carpal tunnel release, so I don’t need to change, status post surgery? | Interossei System is more efficient, more productive, so you can do whatever you intended with less effort. The Interossei System clinical trial did not include typists who had hand surgery. |
| 33 | I’ve been advised to have carpal tunnel release, any comment? | Carpal tunnel release is hand surgery, cutting around the median nerve, and other tendons, and slicing the dorsal carpal ligament. About 1 in 8 surgeries generate adverse events, bleeding, damage to other tendons or vessels in the wrist or forearm, and therapy to recover from the surgery. Surgery costs about $25,000 per surgery, within the past decade, even if covered by insurance. It is important to know what it costs. |
| 34 | I know how to type, and don’t want to relearn anymore. | The high school typing course took 18 weeks, at 45 minutes a day, because of the fatigue in the forearm, and youthful hands, wrists and forearms. However, it would not have taken 18 weeks, if the efficient row were available, so that the touch typing could go for 4 hours or more, and learn the keys over 2-4 hour sessions. The typing is done by repetition, and normal writing uses 130 Es for every Z. So you learn E much faster. For touch typists, 6 keys change on the home row. |
| 35 | I’m a fast typist, I can type 120 words a minute with QWERTY, why change? | You can still type 120 words a minute with Interossei , with perhaps half the effort required by QWERTY. Half the effort means you can go much longer. |
| 36 | I hunt and peck with 2 fingers. Why should I Change? | Hunt and peck should not develop symptoms of CTS, but it can be fatiguing as it takes longer than using all 8 fingers. If productivity is not your need, and you won’t develop CTS, perhaps you could just use a pencil. |
| 37 | Communication is going to voice recognition, and it is unnecessary to learn the keyboard. | Voice recognition cannot discern between homonyms, words which sound alike but are spelled differently, such as ‘there, they’re and their, or ‘two, to and too,’ or ‘in’ and ‘N,’ ‘be’ ‘bee’ and ‘B’, and others. Setup takes dozens of hours to program voice recognition to be trained for the voice. Voice recognition is best with private offices with the door closed, but not in the quiet car on the AMTRAK train, nor in a wi-fi coffee shop where the background noise interrupts the voice recognition, nor in the library or anyplace where talking is inappropriate, such as the classroom, nor when a roommate is watching TV or studying. Voice recognition has its limits. How about laryngitis during or after a cold? Will you need to shut down for a few days while your voice recovers? Can you really talk for 6 or 8 hours every day? Those who speak a lot, such as operators, also take time to listen. Voice recognition takes time to set up by repeating many words, and requires a steady speech pattern, not with changes in meter, or accent. So voice recognition requires proof reading afterwards, to correct the transcript. Voice recognition has its place, but is not the computer HAL in the movie 2001 A space Odyssey (released 1968). |
| 38 | What are advantages for PHARMACIST to have Interossei System in the inventory? | Customers ask their pharmacist for advice, what to take for pain? associating pain with carpal tunnel. IN addition to Over the counter pain killers, the powered communication system is not invasive, so it does not affect medicine for diabetes, blood pressure, kidneys, weight, birth control, smoking cessation, antibiotics, and many others. NOT invasive. |
| 39 | What of productivity? | Interossei System layout is the most efficient, the opposite of QWERTY, which is most inefficient and nonergonomic. Go for the best, not the worst. QWERTY sets a bad example to students. Failure is QWERTY. Reduce finger distance traveled and flexion and extension by half. |
| 40 | What are other names for carpel syndrome? | Carpal tunnel syndrome CTS, synonyms are cumulative trauma disease CTD, median nerve injury, median nerve compression, median nerve entrapment, musculo-skeletal disorders repetitive motion injury, repetitive motion syndrome, repetitive stress injuries, RSI, typing disease, upper extremity injury. |
| 41 | How are diabetes and carpal tunnel syndrome co-maladies? | Sixty to seventy percent of the 18.2 million Americans with Diabetes have mild to severe nervous system damage, impaired sensation in the hands, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. One-third are undiagnosed. Indirect costs associated with diabetes were $40 billion in the United States in 2002, while direct medical costs were approximately $92 billion, therefore bringing the overall costs in our country to $132 billion. Source – Senator Johnson, Senate January 23, 2004. Page S4074. |
| 42 | What of ergonomic regulations? | These critically important ergonomic regulations would have prevented 4.6 million musculoskeletal disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome and other ailments related to repetitive motion, force. Source. CONCERN FOR THE AMERICAN WORKER — HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA (Extensions of Remarks – July 27, 2001) [Page: E1460]. |
| 43 | What of ergonomic injuries? | The government estimates 1.8 million U.S. workers per year suffer ergonomic injuries. The Labor Department will develop new guidelines for safe and healthy work environments. Companies will be able to use or ignore these and the present regulations at their discretion. It’s expensive when employees have to draw on their health benefits, disability and workers’ compensation. In the long run it is more costly to have employees suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome , repetitive strain injury than to create a worker-friendly environment. Source. HON. GEORGE MILLER OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Monday, April 22, 2002 [Page: E595] |
| 44 | What of predicting CTS? | Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway performed genetic tests on employees. The tests were conducted with the goal of identifying a predisposition for carpal tunnel syndrome and thereby undermining those employees’ claims of job-related injuries. Source. (10 HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GENETIC NONDISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH INSURANCE AND EMPLOYMENT ACT. Tuesday, February 13, 2001 [Page: E164]. (2) Mr. DASCHLE. BIPARTISAN PATIENT PROTECTION ACT — (Senate – June 29, 2001 AMENDMENT NO. 849) [Page: S7135] |
| 45 | What of Ergonomics labor rules? | When workplace injuries cause workers to take time away, businesses have to train new workers and pay higher worker’s compensation premiums. OSHA from protecting Americans against repetitive stress disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome and the physical injuries that workers sustain every day. Many of these millions are women. They are our mothers, our aunts, our sisters and our daughters. Each year 400,000 women workers suffer injuries from dangerously designed jobs. Sixty-nine percent of all workers who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome are women. Source Mr. KUCINICH. — (House of Representatives – March 07, 2001) [Page: H684]. Each year, according to the AFL-CIO, 400,000 women workers suffer injuries from ergonomic hazards. Sixty-nine percent of all workers who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome are women. A dear aunt of mine who worked as a secretary required surgery in both wrists to deal with carpal tunnel . Besides the physical and emotional costs caused by these workplace injuries, there is a huge economic cost. workers compensation costs of repetitive motion injuries is $20 billion each year. So this, of course, hurts families, but it also hurts businesses in reduced productivity. It cuts business profits. It increases claims. It increases litigation. Source Mr. KUCINICH. Ohio, WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999) [Page: H6915] |
| 46 | What of the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues? | Women make up 46 percent of the overall workforce, but in 1998 in fact accounted for 71 percent of reported carpal tunnel syndrome cases (18,719 out of 26,266 reported cases). Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD,(House of Representatives – March 07, 2001) [Page: H684] |
| 47 | What of President Bush’s Labor Secretary, Elizabeth Dole? | This is what the Secretary of Labor said about ergonomic injuries in 1990, 11 years ago: By reducing repetitive motion injuries, we will increase both the safety and productivity of America’s workforce. We have had study after study by the National Academy of Sciences, by the Institutes of Medicine. Ergonomic injuries are repetitive motion injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrom. Among those affected are secretaries who endure carpal tunnel syndrome from the use of computers, and high-tech workers who sit at keyboards all day long. Let’s look at the numbers of people affected. The source is the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the year 2000. There are 1.8 million ergonomic injuries reported yearly, and 600,000 people lose time from their work yearly. Ergonomic injuries impose annual costs of $50 billion; account for over one-third of all serious job-related injuries; and account for over two-thirds of all job-related illnesses. *** Mr. KENNEDY. (Senate – March 05, 2001) [Page: S1801] |
| 48 | What of studies? Decades of studies | The NAM [National Academy of Medicine] states the NAS study did not address the issue of causation and repeatedly called for more study. The Academy ***explicitly stated it had done sufficient work to support conclusive findings that workplace practices cause ergonomics injuries. –Orthopedic Surgeons, Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Occupational Therapy Association, Society of Safety Engineers, Chiropractic Association, Public Health Association. Women are disproportionately harmed by ergonomic hazards. Women comprise 47 percent of the total workforce and incur 33 percent of the total injuries in the workforce. But women constitute 64 percent of all those who lose time from work because of repetitive motion injuries, and 71 percent of those who lose worker time for carpal tunnel injuries. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ERGONOMICS RULE — (Senate – March 05, 2001) Mr. KENNEDY. [Page: S1801 S1802] |
| 49 | What of the National Academy of Sciences? | I am told that ergonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker and ergonomic injuries are repetitive stress injuries. The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine report of January, 2001, reported that in 1999, nearly 1 million people took time from work to treat or recover from work-related ergonomic injuries. The cost of these injuries is enormous–about $50 billion annually. People with ergonomic injuries we are computer users. While women make up 46 percent of the overall workforce, they account for over 64 percent of these repetitive motion injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.8 million ergonomic injuries are reported each and every year, and have been for well over the last decade as our economy produced more jobs of the kind I just described. Six hundred thousand people have lost work time as a result of these injuries. Ergonomic injuries cost businesses $50 billion a year. Finally, women, who make up 46 percent of the workforce, account for a majority of these injuries that are occurring in the workplace. These injuries are debilitating. They are painful and the economic hardship caused by them is significant. A woman who spent 30 years working in the Senate, and worked with me for almost the last 20 years. She developed carpal tunnel syndrome , a very painful injury. 1.8 million people a year who are injured by repetitive stress injuries. Mr. DODD. DISAPPROVAL OF DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ERGONOMICS RULE–Continued — (Senate – March 06, 2001) [Page: S1846] |
| 50 | What of Education policy? | Ergonomics is about the secretaries and the clerks who type all the time or the people who sit in front of computers. There are ways to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. . Carpal tunnel syndrome is simply you have repeated something so often and you use your fingers and your wrists in a certain way until it wears out and it is painful to do it. And beyond being painful, you reach the point where you cannot do it any more. A person who earns his or her living by typing the motion over and over again can find themselves at a point where they do not have a way to earn a living, because of the fact that they can no longer use their wrists and their hands and their arms. Every Member of Congress has had exposure, I am sure, to people with carpal tunnel syndrome. that Employers take preventive measures to minimize the risk of people getting incapacitated as a result of repeated use, using certain muscles and fibers. Source. Mr. OWENS (New York). EDUCATION POLICY — (House of Representatives – March 13, 2001) [Page: H659] |
| 51 | What of working men and women? | Worker safety is critically important to working men and women. The lives of workers who suffer from disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome, are changed forever. Source California (Mrs. CAPPS). (House of Representatives – March 13, 2001) |
| 52 | What of North Carolina workers’ compensation? | I did a lot of workers’ compensation work in the practice of law on behalf of employees, because I remember in North Carolina litigating the first case that established carpal tunnel syndrome as an occupational disease under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation law. What was required on one side, on my side, the employee’s side, was a group of experts that connected these injuries to conditions in the workplace, and on the employer side, a group of experts that denied that there was any connection between the workplace setting and these kinds of diseases. So what we would have is hours and hours and thousands of dollars of expert opinion time on both sides of this issue. Source – Mr. WATT of North Carolina. Mr. WATT of North Carolina. [Page: H659] |
| 53 | What of repetitive disorders? | We are talking about repetitive stress injuries and about 1.8 million workers who suffer from these disorders, 600,000 injuries so severe that people are forced to take off from work. The terms of these injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, sound familiar. To working people in this country, our accountability for their safety. I would bet that of the 1.6 million, 1.8 million workers who suffer from these injuries, well over 50 percent are women. This is a class thing. These are working class people. Source Mr. WELLSTONE. A WEEK FOR WORKING PEOPLE — (Senate – March 05, 2001) [Page: S1811] |
| 54 | What of Ergonomics? | Each year, 1.7 million workers suffer from ergonomic injuries, and nearly 600,000 workers lose a day or more of work because of these injuries suffered on the job. Ergonomic injuries account for over one-third of all serious job-related injuries. These injuries are painful and often crippling. They range from carpal tunnel syndrome, to disorders of the muscles and nerves. Carpal tunnel syndrome keeps workers off the job longer than any other workplace injury. This injury alone causes workers to lose an average of more than 25 days, compared to 17 days. The ergonomics issue is also a women’s issue, because women workers are disproportionately affected by these injuries. Women make up 46 percent of the overall workforce–but in 1998 they accounted for 64 percent of repetitive motion injuries and 71 percent of carpal tunnel cases. We need to help workers. A model employee in the insurance industry developed carpal tunnel syndrome , using a computer at work. * lost the use of her hands, and is now permanently unable to do her job, drive a car, play the cello, or shop for groceries. Source Mr. KENNEDY. ERGONOMICS — (Senate – November 01, 2000) [Page: S11486] . |
| 55 | What of the workplace? | Women workers are particularly victimized by ergonomic injuries and illness. They represent 69 percent of workers who lose time due to carpal tunnel syndrome , 63 percent of those who suffer repetitive motion injuries. half of all injuries and illnesses to women workers are due to ergonomic hazards. Source Mr. Frost. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999)[Page: H6902] |
| 56 | What of work stations? | Women, who are wearing wrist braces: the answer over and over again is the same, carpal tunnel syndrome. Where does carpal tunnel syndrome come from? They come from workers having to do the same thing hundreds of times and thousands of times without properly designed equipment and work stations. Repetitive motion injuries affect 650,000 workers each year. That is more than the number of people who die each year from cancer and stroke. Those injuries account for more lost workday injuries than any other cause, especially for women workers. Nearly half of all workplace injuries for women are due to repetitive motion problems. In 1997, the National Institutes for Occupational Health and Safety conducted a detailed review of more than 600 scientific studies on the problem, and they found a strong correlation between workplace conditions and worker injuries. That study was peer reviewed by 27 experts throughout the country. But that was not good enough for some of my colleagues. So in 1998, they pushed the National Institutes of Health to fund another study at the National Academy of Sciences. They convened 65 of the world’s leading scientists, and again they found evidence that clearly demonstrates that specific intervention can reduce injury. But that is not good enough for some of my colleagues. They want yet another delay. That delay does not hurt anybody in this room. Source Mr. OBEY. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999)[Page: H6902 – H6904] |
| 57 | What of keyboards? | The slow death that is taking place more and more as we increase our digital world and people are more and more sitting before keyboards, eyestrain, all kinds of carpal tunnel syndromes from the actions of the wrists, all kinds of disorders are developing rapidly that injure more and more workers. More and more women, also, are drawn into this, more and more women incidentally who happen to be the wage earners and their families have been drawn into this. Source Mr. Owens. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999) [Page: H6904 |
| 58 | What of workdays? | In 1997, There were 620,459 lost workdays due to workplace ergonomic injuries. These injuries were overexertion, repetitive motion, carpal tunnel syndrome , back injuries. This represents 34 percent, over one-third, of all the workdays that were lost by injured workers were due to ergonomic injuries. Ergonomic injuries each year cost business and workers between 15 and $20 billion. NIOSH has found that in fact repetitive motion does cause injuries. People who injure themselves on the job through ergonomic problems, they cannot comb their children’s hair, cannot wash dishes, cannot sweep the floors at home. Source. Mr. KLINK. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999) [Page: H6904 |
| 59 | What of women’s health? | This is a women’s health issue. Women are five times more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome than men, one of the most painful ergonomic problems. Women are disproportionately represented in the jobs and workplaces where ergonomic hazards are the most common. Mrs. LOWEY. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999) [Page: H6909] |
| 60 | What of musculoskeletal disorders? | Work-related musculoskeletal disorders cost employers between $15 and $20 billion in workers compensation costs each year. Women workers are particularly victimized by ergonomic injuries and illnesses. For example, women are 69 percent of those who lose work time due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Mr. CLAY. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999). Page: H6910] |
| 61 | What of surgery? | I have had, carpal tunnel syndrome, with surgery on both hands. SOurce Mr. EHLERS. Michigan. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999). [Page: H6913]. |
| 62 | What of ergonomic injuries? | Ergonomic injuries are the most common serious workplace health problems that face workers. Each delay means another 620,000 employees involved in everything from heavy lifting to data entry will suffer injuries associated with repeated trauma such as carpal tunnel syndrome . One of three workers’ compensation dollars goes to repetitive stress injuries. The number continues to rise. Source Ms. DeLAURO, Connecticut. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999). [Page: H6913] |
| 63 | What of trial lawyer? | I was a trial lawyer, 50 percent worker compensation claims. I represented many clients who suffered from repetitive motion injuries, the most common of which is to the wrists, known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Source. Mr. Terry of Nebraska. . WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999). [Page: H6914] |
| 64 | What of more studies? | When we get scientific answers to studies and that science does not say what they wanted to hear, then they demand more studies. We know it, they know it, and it is not going to work. We can only delay this so long. The point is that business knew about repetitive stress injuries years and years and years ago. So we do not need further studies. I was a human resources professional. we understood the problems that were caused by related [repetitive] stress injuries. carpal tunnel syndrome. a large number of repeated stress injuries. inserting [comments caused] carpal tunnel syndrome. So we do not need further studies. Employers and employees will not benefit from further studies Source. Mrs. Fowler, [Page: H6821] WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives – August 03, 1999) |
| 65 | What of the women’s issue? | I would like to put in the record case studies of constituents who have repetitive motion injury. because these disorders cost employers between $15 billion and $20 billion each year in workers compensation costs. It is very much of a woman’s issue. Sixty percent of the claims are women that are in these repetitive typing jobs. ILGWU)–New York, NY, Ladies’ Garment Workers member suffered with a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome for seven years. The maze of applying for workers’ compensation; a two-year wait is normal for victims of carpal tunnel syndrome. During that period, most workers lose their health benefits and some must apply for welfare benefits to support their families. Source. Mrs. MALONEY of New York. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives -August 03, 1999) [Page: H6922] |
| 66 | What of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases? | In 1996, I asked Dr. Katz, the director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases at the National Institutes of Health if we knew enough scientifically for the Federal Government to be promulgating ergonomic standards. His response was not yet. He went on to explain that despite extensive study, we are a long way from knowing the best medical management of repetitive motion disorders. Source- [Mr. PORTER. WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT — (House of Representatives -August 03, 1999) Page: H6922] |
| 67 | What of disproportionate pain? | ERGONOMICS IS A WOMAN’S ISSUE. Women are Affected Disproportionately. In 1997 women made up 46% of the American workforce and accounted for 33% of all workplace injuries. Yet, in certain jobs such as typing or key entry, they suffered 91% of all repetitive motion injuries. Overall, women experienced 70% of all lost-time cases caused by carpal tunnel syndrome close to two-thirds of all lost work-time cases caused by tendinitis. A study from Washington State reported that while women submit less than 1/3 of all workers compensation claims in the state, 61% of all claims for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are submitted by women. A significant number of data key operators, and secretaries suffer numerous cases of MSDs. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is more prevalent in Female–Dominated Industries. Ninety-one percent of cashiers who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome are women. Women make up 85% of packagers who experience carpal tunnel syndrome. Virtually all cases of carpal tunnel syndrome among data-entry keyers,, general office clerks, telephone operators, bank tellers, and typists are experienced by women. Many Occupations with a Majority of Women Employees are Disproportionately Impacted by Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Top Jobs in which women are at risk for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. ((2) Secretaries; 4) Data-Entry Keyers Ergonomic-Related Injuries are crippling. According to BLS, workers with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome m average more days away from work than workers who suffer amputations, falls, and fractures. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome cases average 25 days away from work; amputations average 18 days. Workers who suffer MSDs may never return to the job or may never be able to handle simple, everyday task such as combing their hair or picking up a baby. Source: “Ergonomics project exemplifies Opferkuch’s ambition,” Business Insurance, April 1997.[Page: H6923] |
| 68 | What of the AFL-CIO? | I am the Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council. The Labor Council represents more than 100,000 working families throughout Silicon Valley. more than 500,000 workers have suffered carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries. That’s one more worker every 18 seconds. She found out it was carpal tunnel syndrome . Eventually, she lost so much strength that, after a while, she couldn’t hold anything over two pounds. TESTIMONY OF AMY B. DEAN, EXECUTIVE OFFICER SOUTH BAY AFL-CIO LABOR COUNCIL, JULY 24, 2001. [Page: H5634] |
| 69 | What of the National academy of Sciences? | Congress mandated that the National Academy of Sciences conduct a study to review the impact of repetitive workplace motions. *** More than 647,000 Americans suffer serious injuries and illness due to musculo-skeletal disorders each year. These injuries are currently costing businesses $15 to $20 billion annually in workers’ compensation costs. Although women make up 46 percent of the workforce and 33 percent of those injured, 63 percent of repetitive motion injuries happen to women. Women experience 70 percent of carpal tunnel syndrome injuries that result in lost work time. Source SPEECH OF HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, March 7, 2001[Page: E594] |
| HCPCS Code powered communication system [email protected] | For billing Medicare & Medicaid patients — The Healthcare Common Prodecure Coding System (HCPCS) is a collection of codes that represent procedures, supplies, products and services which may be provided to Medicare beneficiaries and to individuals enrolled in private health insurance programs. Maintained jointly by the alpha-numeric editorial panel | CMS, America’s Health Insurance Plans , and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association). pricing, coding analysis, and coding (PDAC), contractor to toll free helpline for this purpose, (877) 735-1326. AHA Central Office via the www.codingclinicadvisor.com website |
| ICD-10-CM disease | G56.0 10 G56.0 Carpal tunnel syndrome Billable G56.00 Carpal tunnel syndrome, unspecified upper limb Billable G56.01 Carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper limb Billable G56.02 Carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper limb Billable G56.03 Carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral upper limbs | https://icdcodelookup.com/icd-10/codes/G56.00 G56.0 is a “category code,” which means it’s non-billable |
| G56.00 Carpal tunnel syndrome, unspecified upper limb | Excludes I From Section G50-G59:
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