Dr Lauren Morgan, a lecturer in the Patient Safety Academy, talks to the Oxford Science Blog about what human factors research can teach medics about improving healthcare.
Human factors breaks down into five areas – physical environment; tools and technology; organisation and culture; people; and the work they do.
'Doctors are designing their work environment all the time, whether they're setting up the operating theatre or selecting tools and equipment. That is unique to medicine. Then they step up to managment where they design organisational processes,' explains Dr Morgan.
The use of human factors specialists to advise on these designs is still unusual. Lauren says she knows of three other people doing what she does, but the usefulness of her advice is increasingly recognised.
Read more (Oxford Science Blog)