Implementing Human Factors methods in the design of new clinical facilities

Abstract

In spite of the vast literature demonstrating the safety benefits of having Human Factors engineers on board, only few medical organizations employ a Human Factors engineer as part of their staff. Following a safety training seminar, the hospital management decided to include a Human Factors engineer in the process of designing three new clinics in a 600 bed private hospital in Israel. Together with experts from other fields, our team of Human Factors engineers served as consultants for the interior designer during the initial stages of designing these new clinics. We found that adding the Human Factors aspects as part of the design phase might provide easy implementation of solutions that would improve the working environment with minimal budget. The implementation of this method improves both the patient and the caregiver experience and provide environment for safer treatments.