Human Factors & Ergonomics in Healthcare (Loughborough University)

About the course

Delegates will gain a understanding of the importance of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) and how it can be applied practically to resolve problems that prevent the delivery of efficient, high quality and safe care. Delegates will also be able to network and access expert support in HFE.

Who should attend?

The workshops are multi-disciplinary and open to all staff providing direct care, operational and supporting services in all sectors of health and community care, clinical and non-clinical, at every level. The workshops have been successfully delivered to a wide range of staff including senior management and clinicians. 

What will you learn?

1. Introduction of HFE principles as systems and design concepts.
2. Discussion of opportunities for integrating quality improvement (QI) and HFE projects.
3. Support in thinking about HFE solutions to improve wellbeing and performance for staff and patients.

Expected outcomes

On completion of this workshop delegates should be able to:

• Demonstrate an introductory knowledge of HFE principles and practices.
• Discuss HFE problems as staff and patient design challenges.
• Suggest interventions in current systems through re-design rather than adding work.

Course content

The course content is based on international professional competencies for HFE practice. The workshop includes:

1. Exploration of how HFE principles are understood and applied in the NHS through reflection on current (and previous) activities and initiatives including an introduction and key points from the NQB Concordat about patient safety.
2. Outline of HFE principles and practices (methods) with respect to safety (patients, staff and other people in the system), wellbeing and performance.
3. Examples of HFE best practice from at least 6 HFE case studies (for example, theatres, maternity, ambulance, communication (HFE and QI for adult admission forms), hospital building, falls) integrating knowledge from design, engineering, psychology, organisational management and human sciences.
4. Outline of the relationship between HFE and QI.

Assessment 

A short evaluation survey is included in the workshop.

What’s included

Individual delegate workbooks
Certificate of attendance

Recommended pre-requisites

Prior to the workshop participants will be asked to complete a short survey to highlight the top five issues/challenges that they find prevent the delivery of high quality care. This information will help focus the agenda in the workshop. Participants will also be given some background reading in preparation for the workshop.