Human Factors and Simulation in Emergency Medicine

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Human Factors Engineering
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Human factors (HF) is an underutilized discipline in emergency medicine (EM).
• HF offers significant potential for optimizing the interface between technologies and healthcare professionals in EM.
• The 2017 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference explored HF and simulation in EM.

Framework:

• Simulation serves as a catalyst for applying human factors principles in EM.
• This consensus group focused on the benefits of HF in medicine and its application in EM.
• The discussion highlighted how EM can collaborate with HF professionals to drive change.

Implementation:

• Implementing HF in EM necessitates demonstrating clear clinical and safety outcomes.
• Advocacy for HF integration among stakeholders and administrators is crucial.
• Structured collaborations between HF professionals and EM are essential for successful implementation.

Implications:

• Integrating HF through simulation can lead to improved patient safety and system efficiency in EM.
• Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration can advance the application of HF in healthcare settings.
• This work provides a framework for leveraging simulation to embed HF principles within EM practice.