Free 14-Day Trial
Perform unlimited ergonomic assessments for two weeks. All you need is your phone.
How AI-Driven Ergonomics Makes Healthcare Work with Dr. Alicia Turner
Episode 07: Show Notes
In this episode, host Dr. Matt Jeffs is joined by Dr. Alicia Turner, PT, DPT, CEAS, CEFE, AOEAS to discuss the evolving world of ergonomics and the game-changing role of AI. Dr. Turner is a dedicated physical therapist and ergonomic specialist passionate about injury prevention and workplace efficiency. Leveraging her company Modify, she focuses on prevention to enhance safety awareness and equip employees with the tools they need to manage their health effectively.
Together, they break down the hidden costs of workplace injuries and their impact on productivity, turnover, and morale. They unpack why prevention is one of the smartest financial investments a company can make and how AI-driven ergonomic analysis is changing the way businesses approach workplace safety. Dr. Turner also shares some of her most unconventional ergonomic fixes and an interesting makeshift solution involving a car seat. She also discusses why getting your hands dirty is vital in ergonomics, the value of working in challenging environments, and what she enjoys most about her work.
Join Dr. Jeffs and Dr. Turner as they explore how to move workplace safety from reactive to proactive, why AI is a powerful tool for injury prevention, and how a few smart ergonomic changes can transform the way people work. Tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:00] Introduction and a warm welcome to Dr. Alicia Turner.
Dr. Jeffs introduces Dr. Alicia Turner and begins today’s conversation with an exciting announcement. They also discuss their shared professional backgrounds and her professional path to ergonomics.
[01:44] Dr. Turner’s shift from clinical care to upstream injury prevention.
Hear how insurance constraints and the frustration of treating preventable injuries pushed her toward upstream injury prevention. She also highlights the pivotal moment that led her to the field of ergonomics.
[06:43] Moving away from reactive care toward protective care.
They unpack issues surrounding conflicts of interest within the industry and the hidden financial burden workplace injuries place on companies. Find out why companies often fail to see the hidden costs of absenteeism, decreased productivity, and increased insurance premiums.
[11:26] Learn about Dr. Turner’s approach to educating workers.
She shares how she uses simple methods to help workers understand their bodies and movements to make ergonomics more relatable. She explains why workers who understand the reasons behind ergonomic principles are more likely to apply them in their work and personal lives.
[17:02] Discover why a hands-on approach to ergonomics is essential.
They unpack why real ergonomics work happens in the field, and how it often requires crawling into tight spaces and physically engaging with hazardous environments. Dr. Turner recounts when she walked into a control tower and found a car seat welded onto a steel box as a makeshift solution and how she solved the problem.
[24:12] Explore the role of AI in ergonomics and why it is a game-changer.
Dr. Turner explains how AI-powered ergonomic assessments help instantly identify high-risk movements in workplaces and how they provide quantitative proof that is hard for management to ignore. They also discuss how quantitative approaches and working directly with employees increase morale.
[32:17] The ROI of protection and prevention and the issue of corporate siloing.
Learn how to use Tumeke’s ROI Calculator to show companies that spending on prevention is a smart financial decision. They also unpack why departments within companies often do not communicate effectively, and how it creates inefficiencies in workplace safety programs.
[36:18] Dr. Turner shares a funny story regarding a wardrobe malfunction.
Hear about her hilarious travel disaster, where her car broke down, she forgot her suitcase, and she ended up presenting an ergonomics lesson in oversized, unbuttoned jeans at a rock quarry.
[40:40] Final takeaways and how to reach out to Dr. Turner.
How listeners can connect with Dr. Turner and a friendly reminder for listeners about their upcoming panel at the Applied Ergonomics Conference. Finally, Dr. Turner shares what she has planned for the future.
Quotes:
“The whole American healthcare system – is reactive. It’s reactive, and everyone wants a quick fix.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:06:58]
“You can’t do a good true ergonomics program without getting dirty. You are going to get your hands dirty [and] it’s a lot of work.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:07:46]
“[Ergonomic assessment videos] help with buy-in and it cuts through me having to explain it.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:24:53]
“Having the computer vision as well as the speed [of] the AI helping fill out and doing [the ergonomic] assessments has been unbelievable.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:25:30]
Longer Quotes:
“For one muscle strain, a company has to make 2.2 million dollars in revenue to account for the direct and indirect costs of injury. So, do [the companies] really know these numbers? And if you come in and spend far less than that upfront, we can eliminate injuries. So that is that mindset [where it’s], ‘Guys, cash you don’t even see is just flowing out the door, but if we can get in here ahead of the curve and stop these things, it is going to save not only money but pain and time.’” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:08:41]
“Nothing is going to fly if it is just policing. And if it's perceived as policing, [workers] are going to do the bare minimum [and] they are going to be resentful doing it. Because – mindset is more than half the battle. We can stretch, exercise, and have the perfect setup, but if we are defeated and discouraged and don’t feel heard, seen, or validated, injuries are going to skyrocket. Pain is going to skyrocket [and] productivity is going to decrease.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:27:46]
Links & Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
%201.svg){kind=logo}
.png)
How AI-Driven Ergonomics Makes Healthcare Work with Dr. Alicia Turner
Episode 07: Show Notes
In this episode, host Dr. Matt Jeffs is joined by Dr. Alicia Turner, PT, DPT, CEAS, CEFE, AOEAS to discuss the evolving world of ergonomics and the game-changing role of AI. Dr. Turner is a dedicated physical therapist and ergonomic specialist passionate about injury prevention and workplace efficiency. Leveraging her company Modify, she focuses on prevention to enhance safety awareness and equip employees with the tools they need to manage their health effectively.
Together, they break down the hidden costs of workplace injuries and their impact on productivity, turnover, and morale. They unpack why prevention is one of the smartest financial investments a company can make and how AI-driven ergonomic analysis is changing the way businesses approach workplace safety. Dr. Turner also shares some of her most unconventional ergonomic fixes and an interesting makeshift solution involving a car seat. She also discusses why getting your hands dirty is vital in ergonomics, the value of working in challenging environments, and what she enjoys most about her work.
Join Dr. Jeffs and Dr. Turner as they explore how to move workplace safety from reactive to proactive, why AI is a powerful tool for injury prevention, and how a few smart ergonomic changes can transform the way people work. Tune in now!
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:00] Introduction and a warm welcome to Dr. Alicia Turner.
Dr. Jeffs introduces Dr. Alicia Turner and begins today’s conversation with an exciting announcement. They also discuss their shared professional backgrounds and her professional path to ergonomics.
[01:44] Dr. Turner’s shift from clinical care to upstream injury prevention.
Hear how insurance constraints and the frustration of treating preventable injuries pushed her toward upstream injury prevention. She also highlights the pivotal moment that led her to the field of ergonomics.
[06:43] Moving away from reactive care toward protective care.
They unpack issues surrounding conflicts of interest within the industry and the hidden financial burden workplace injuries place on companies. Find out why companies often fail to see the hidden costs of absenteeism, decreased productivity, and increased insurance premiums.
[11:26] Learn about Dr. Turner’s approach to educating workers.
She shares how she uses simple methods to help workers understand their bodies and movements to make ergonomics more relatable. She explains why workers who understand the reasons behind ergonomic principles are more likely to apply them in their work and personal lives.
[17:02] Discover why a hands-on approach to ergonomics is essential.
They unpack why real ergonomics work happens in the field, and how it often requires crawling into tight spaces and physically engaging with hazardous environments. Dr. Turner recounts when she walked into a control tower and found a car seat welded onto a steel box as a makeshift solution and how she solved the problem.
[24:12] Explore the role of AI in ergonomics and why it is a game-changer.
Dr. Turner explains how AI-powered ergonomic assessments help instantly identify high-risk movements in workplaces and how they provide quantitative proof that is hard for management to ignore. They also discuss how quantitative approaches and working directly with employees increase morale.
[32:17] The ROI of protection and prevention and the issue of corporate siloing.
Learn how to use Tumeke’s ROI Calculator to show companies that spending on prevention is a smart financial decision. They also unpack why departments within companies often do not communicate effectively, and how it creates inefficiencies in workplace safety programs.
[36:18] Dr. Turner shares a funny story regarding a wardrobe malfunction.
Hear about her hilarious travel disaster, where her car broke down, she forgot her suitcase, and she ended up presenting an ergonomics lesson in oversized, unbuttoned jeans at a rock quarry.
[40:40] Final takeaways and how to reach out to Dr. Turner.
How listeners can connect with Dr. Turner and a friendly reminder for listeners about their upcoming panel at the Applied Ergonomics Conference. Finally, Dr. Turner shares what she has planned for the future.
Quotes:
“The whole American healthcare system – is reactive. It’s reactive, and everyone wants a quick fix.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:06:58]
“You can’t do a good true ergonomics program without getting dirty. You are going to get your hands dirty [and] it’s a lot of work.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:07:46]
“[Ergonomic assessment videos] help with buy-in and it cuts through me having to explain it.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:24:53]
“Having the computer vision as well as the speed [of] the AI helping fill out and doing [the ergonomic] assessments has been unbelievable.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:25:30]
Longer Quotes:
“For one muscle strain, a company has to make 2.2 million dollars in revenue to account for the direct and indirect costs of injury. So, do [the companies] really know these numbers? And if you come in and spend far less than that upfront, we can eliminate injuries. So that is that mindset [where it’s], ‘Guys, cash you don’t even see is just flowing out the door, but if we can get in here ahead of the curve and stop these things, it is going to save not only money but pain and time.’” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:08:41]
“Nothing is going to fly if it is just policing. And if it's perceived as policing, [workers] are going to do the bare minimum [and] they are going to be resentful doing it. Because – mindset is more than half the battle. We can stretch, exercise, and have the perfect setup, but if we are defeated and discouraged and don’t feel heard, seen, or validated, injuries are going to skyrocket. Pain is going to skyrocket [and] productivity is going to decrease.” — Dr. Alicia Turner [0:27:46]
Links & Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: