News and Presentations for today's conference
"1 in 20 coming into hospital are harmed in a way that could have been preventatble."
"Maybe we should look at the tiny areas - for every major injury before that there are 300 near misses."
Conference chair: Mr John Reynard, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Integrating Human Factors into Health and Social care
Prof Sue Hignett, Professor of Healthcare Ergonomics & Patient Safety, Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University
Pre-event abstract
This talk will look at three areas for integrating Human Factors/Ergonomics (HFE) into Health and Social Care to understand interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and apply theory, principles, data, and other methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.
Integrating safety for micro systems (work as done); for example, to improve the work environment and technologies to care for patients safely and effectively
Integrating safety across macro systems, for example in investigation of patient safety incidents; and for the design protocols and guidelines (work as imagined)
Integrating HFE and Quality Improvement to build on existing knowledge and experience and use the 4-step model to create, implement and evaluate safety solutions
Examples will include safer space to care and work; dynamic systems design to reduce in-patient falls; and increasing HFE capacity and capability with accredited training.
Human Factors: Where to start?
Fran Ives, Ergonomist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Guest Lecturer and Module Lead, MSc Occupational Health, Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Birmingham
Pre-event abstract
Achieving integration of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) within a large NHS Trust is a challenging, daunting and lengthy task. Despite recognition from a number of organisations within the NHS that HFE can bring benefits to both staff and patients, integration is in its infancy. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has a long established Ergonomics service focusing on the reduction of musculoskeletal problems in staff. In addition, the recognition of non-technical skills had developed through high fidelity simulation training. The Trust aimed to bring both elements together to develop broader HFE knowledge and application.
Jane Higgs, Ergonomics and Human Factors Adviser
Key elements and tips around what can go right – and wrong – with healthcare human factors projects from the perspective of an external consultant.