Commissioning Clinical Spaces During a Pandemic: Merging Methodologies of Human Factors and Simulation

The objective of this case study is to demonstrate the value of applying tabletop and simulation techniques to highlight high-risk, high-impact outcomes and organizational recommendations in the commissioning of a new clinical spaces.

Generalizability of lessons learned from this case study aim to support other health organizations in commissioning of clinical spaces during communicable disease outbreaks.

COVID-19 challenged our healthcare system, requiring teams to prepare in a short span of time. Bridging expertise of human factor and simulation teams provided a novel, interdisciplinary, and timely approach to evaluate and commission spaces.

Human factors and simulation teams were enlisted to conduct an evaluation of a new space prior to readiness for delivery of safe patient care. An adapted tabletop evaluation and subsequent systems integration simulation was conducted. The goal of the tabletop exercise was to identify and define processes and risks to tested in the physical space using simulation.

Applying both human factors science and systems simulation proactively identified the highest risk, highest impact outcomes, validated existing processes and allowed for refining of potential solutions and recommendations of the new space. A strong working relationship between teams fostered an opportunity to share information, debrief, evaluate, and adapt methods while applying timely changes based on emergent findings.

These combined methodologies are important tools that can be learned and applied to healthcare commissioning of new clinical spaces in the identification of high-risk, high-impact outcomes affecting staff and organizational preparedness and safety.