Episode 30: Healthcare Human Factors
June 27th, 2014
Healthcare Human Factors: How Can we Design Better Healthcare
We are joined by Greg Hallihan, Human Factors Program Manager at W21C, to discuss healthcare human factors. Greg describes the science of human factors and its application to the design of healthcare systems. He then discusses the use of simulation as a research tool in healthcare. Simulation allows researchers to create a realistic but safe environment in which they can test new technologies, teach healthcare techniques, and interact with various aspects of the healthcare system in a controlled and modifiable environment. The Human Factors team at W21C makes use of our state-of-the-art Healthcare Human Factors Simulation Laboratory to conduct research as well as doing offsite in situ research working with industry partners, academic partners, and health service providers such as Alberta Health Services and the Health Quality Council of Alberta.
Greg believes that Healthcare Human Factors has the potential to greatly impact and improve patient safety and quality of care through patient-centered design and more widespread use of Human Factors expertise throughout the healthcare system.
After listening to this episode, listeners will be able to:
1. Describe the science of human factors and its potential applications to the design of healthcare systems (e.g., medical technologies, environments and systems)
2. Identify possibilities for the use of simulation in the evaluation of design of these systems, particularly healthcare environments
3. Delineate the history of patient-centered design, and understand that patient-centered design is about accommodating patients at the population level rather than on an individual basis
Greg Hallihan, Human Factors Program Manager, W21C
Greg Hallihan completed his MASc in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto in 2012 and his BA in Psychology at the University of Calgary in 2010. His previous research interests include design cognition and decision-making, sustainable product development, and transportation human factors. He has been involved with the W21C Human Factors team (led by Dr. Jeff Caird) since 2012 and his current research focus is on the application of Human Factors methodologies in the design and evaluation of healthcare technologies, environments and systems. Greg is currently the Human Factors Program Manager, responsible for identifying and developing new opportunities for the Human Factors team to enhance patient safety and quality of care, through cross-faculty engagement, educational initiatives and industry collaboration.