Human Factors and Ergonomics for Patient Safety

Module code: MD7457

In this module you will study how the application of relevant methods and knowledge in the discipline of ergonomics and human factors is critical to patient safety and improvement in the healthcare field. We will cover a broad but detailed basis of the human factors discipline relevant to patient safety, looking at a range of key ergonomics and human factors tools and techniques.

Topics covered

• Human factors and ergonomics in healthcare: how they relate to quality improvement
• Interdependency of human factors to one another and to patient safety
• Theoretical knowledge of human factors in the healthcare environment
• Practical application of human factors knowledge to the patient environment
• Tools which can provide a human factors solution to a practical problem, including medication, medical equipment, patient services and systems
• Healthcare environment and design solutions based on an appropriate empirically based approach