Health and social care ergonomics: patient safety in practice

Health and social care ergonomics: patient safety in practic

What is the relationship between human factors & ergonomics and quality improvement in healthcare?

© 2015 Taylor & Francis.A recent initiative in the National Health Service (NHS, UK) has led to an increased interest in Human Factors & Ergonomics (HFE). As part of initial discussions there have been questions about the similarities and differences between HFE and Quality Improvement (QI).We believe that there are considerable advantages from a more structured relationship between HFE and QI in healthcare and have comparatively mapped a range of dimensions (origins, drivers, philosophy, focus, role and methods). Our conclusion is that HFE in healthcare should use four criteria to maximise the benefits from this opportunity, including the use of HFE methods to design systems, environments, products etc. and the direct involvement of qualified (chartered) HFE professionals

Human factors & ergonomics and quality improvement science: integrating approaches for safety in healthcare

Introduction: In this paper, we will address the important question of how quality improvement science (QIS) and human factors and ergonomics (HFE) can work together to produce safer solutions for healthcare. We suggest that there will be considerable advantages from an integrated approach between the two disciplines and professions which could be achieved in two phases. First, by identifying people trained in HFE and those trained in QIS who understand how to work together and second, by developing opportunities for integrated education and training. To develop this viewpoint we will: Discuss and explore how QIS and HFE could be integrated by building on existing definitions, scope of practice, knowledge, skills, methods, research and expertise in each discipline. Outline opportunities for a longer-term integration through training, and education for healthcare professionals

Human factors in healthcare: welcome progress, but still scratching the surface

Human factors in healthcare: welcome progress, but still scratching the surfac

Frontiers in human factors: embedding specialists in multi-disciplinary efforts to improve healthcare

Despite the application of a huge range of human factors (HF) principles in a growing range of care contexts, there is much more that could be done to realize this expertise for patient benefit, staff wellbeing and organizational performance. Healthcare has struggled to embrace systems safety approaches, mis-applied or misinterpreted others, and has stuck to a range of outdated and potentially counter-productive myths even has safety science has developed. One consequence of these persistent misunderstandings is that few opportunities exist in clinical settings for qualified HF professionals. Instead, HF has been applied by clinicians and others, to highly variable degrees – sometimes great success, but frequently in limited and sometimes counter-productive ways. Meanwhile, HF professionals have struggled to make a meaningful impact on frontline care and have had little career structure or support. However, In the last few years, embedded clinical HF practitioners have begun to have considerable success that are now being supported and amplified by professional networks. The recent COVID-19 experiences confirm this. Closer collaboration between healthcare and HF professionals will result in significant and ultimately beneficial changes to both professions and to clinical care

Additional file 1 of Healthcare team resilience during COVID-19: a qualitative study

Supplementary Material

Human Factors and Ergonomics and Quality Improvement Science: Integrating Approaches for Safety in Healthcare

In this paper, we will address the important question of how quality improvement science (QIS) and human factors and ergonomics (HFE) can work together to produce safer solutions for healthcare. We suggest that there will be considerable advantages from an integrated approach between the two disciplines and professions which could be achieved in two phases. First, by identifying people trained in HFE and those trained in QIS who understand how to work together and second, by developing opportunities for integrated education and training. To develop this viewpoint we will: Discuss and explore how QIS and HFE could be integrated by building on existing definitions, scope of practice, knowledge, skills, methods, research and expertise in each discipline; Outline opportunities for a longer-term integration through training, and education for healthcare professionals

NOTECHS II Results.

<p>Each dot is the individual Total Oxford NOTECHS II score for an individual operation, and the size of the dot represents the duration of the operation.</p

Glitch Rates.

<p>Each dot is the individual Glitch Rate for an individual operation and the size of the dot represents the duration of the operation.</p

Completion of WHO Checklist.

<p>Completion of WHO Checklist.</p