It’s time for the mandatory use of simulation and human factors in hospital design
Brooke Dench
A , Stephanie Barwick A B and Melanie Barlow A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Mater Education, Level 4 Duncombe Building, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia. Email: brookedench@outlook.com; Melanie.Barlow@mater.org.au
B Corresponding author. Email: Stephanie.Barwick@mater.org.au
Australian Health Review 44(4) 547-549 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH19114
Submitted: 20 May 2019 Accepted: 20 October 2019 Published: 30 June 2020
Abstract
Building a new healthcare facility is complex and poses challenges in delivering a facility that is fit for purpose and designed to minimise latent environmental and process errors. This article summarises what the disciplines of Human Factors/Ergonomics and Simulation can offer to the design and testing of new hospital builds. It argues the incorporation of both disciplines throughout the planning, design, commissioning and operations phases of the building project can minimise latent safety risks to promote patient safety and staff well-being across the building lifecycle. Future directions and policies should include incorporation of human factors design and mandatory process testing before opening.
References
[1] Brook B. Billion dollar bungles at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia’s most expensive building, puts ‘lives at risk’. News.com.au, 28 May 2018. Available at: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/billion-dollar-bungles-at-the-royal-adelaide-hospital-australias-most-expensive-building-puts-lives-at-risk/news-story/21e0e5a278e9a4d1f5cab0b153c702e9 [verified 7 March 2019].[2] Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital clinical review – final report. 2015. Available at: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/443606/lcch-clinicalreview-report.pdf [verified 7 March 2019].
[3] Gignon M, Amsallem C, Ammirati C. Moving a hospital: simulation – a way to co-produce safer healthcare facilities. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2017; 23 589–91.
| Moving a hospital: simulation – a way to co-produce safer healthcare facilities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27935431PubMed |
[4] Taylor E. Anticipate to participate to integrate: bridging evidence-based design and human factors/ergonomics to advance safer healthcare facility design. 2016. Ph.D. Thesis, Loughborough University.
[5] Bitan Y, Donchin Y. Implementing human factors methods in the design of new clinical facilities. In: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care; 10–13 March 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA. Baltimore: Sage; 2013. pp. 114–15.
[6] Schaumann D, Pilosof NP, Date K, Kalay YE. A study of human behaviour simulation in architectural design for healthcare facilities. Ann Ist Super Sanita 2016; 52 24–32.
| 27033615PubMed |
[7] International Ergonomics Association. What is ergonomics? Definition and domains of ergonomics. 2019. Available at: https://www.iea.cc/whats/index.html [verified 7 March 2019].
[8] Ferris TK. Evidence-based design and the fields of human factors and ergonomics: complementary systems-orientated approaches to healthcare design. Health Environments Research and Design Journal. 2013; 6 3–5.
| Evidence-based design and the fields of human factors and ergonomics: complementary systems-orientated approaches to healthcare design.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23817902PubMed |
[9] Gharaveis A, Hamilton DK, Pati D. The impact of environmental design on teamwork and communication in healthcare facilities: a systematic literature review. Health Environments Research and Design Journal. 2018; 11 119–37.
| The impact of environmental design on teamwork and communication in healthcare facilities: a systematic literature review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29022368PubMed |
[10] Joseph A, Rashid M. The architecture of safety: hospital design. Curr Opin Crit Care 2007; 13 714–19.
| The architecture of safety: hospital design.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17975396PubMed |
[11] Taylor E, Joseph A, Quan X, Nanda U. Designing a tool to support patient safety: using research to inform a proactive approach to healthcare facility design. In: Ahram, T, Karwowski, W, Marek, T, editors. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics; 19–23 July 2014; Krakow, Poland. Louisville, KY: AHFE International; 2014. pp. 7889–99.
[12] Bender GJ. In situ simulation for systems testing in newly constructed perinatal facilities. Semin Perinatol 2011; 35 80–3.
| In situ simulation for systems testing in newly constructed perinatal facilities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21440815PubMed |
[13] Gardner AK, Ahmed RA, George RL, Frey JA. In situ simulation to assess workplace attitudes and effectiveness in a new facility. Simul Healthc 2013; 8 351–8.
| In situ simulation to assess workplace attitudes and effectiveness in a new facility.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24096917PubMed |
[14] Brazil V. Translational simulation: not ‘where?’ but ‘why?’ A functional view of in situ simulation. Adv Simul (Lond) 2017; 2 20
| 29450021PubMed |
[15] Guise JM, Mladenovic J. In situ simulation: identification of systems issues. Semin Perinatol 2013; 37 161–5.
| In situ simulation: identification of systems issues.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23721772PubMed |
[16] Barlow M, Dickie R, Morse C, Bonney D, Simon R. Documentation framework for healthcare simulation quality improvement activates. Adv Simul (Lond) 2017; 2 19
| 29450020PubMed |
[17] Kobayashi L, Shapiro MJ, Sucov A, Woolard R, Boss RM, Dunbar J, Sciamacco R, Karpik K, Jay G. Portable advanced medical simulation for new emergency department testing and orientation. Acad Emerg Med 2006; 13 691–5.
| Portable advanced medical simulation for new emergency department testing and orientation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16636356PubMed |
[18] Bender J, Shields R, Kennally K. Transportable enhanced simulation technologies for pre-implementation limited operations testing: Neonatal intensive care unit. Simul Healthc 2011; 6 204–12.
| Transportable enhanced simulation technologies for pre-implementation limited operations testing: Neonatal intensive care unit.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21546863PubMed |
[19] Geis GL, Pio B, Pendergrass TL, Moyer MR, Patterson MD. Simulation to assess the safety of new healthcare teams and new facilities. Simul Healthc 2011; 6 125–33.
| Simulation to assess the safety of new healthcare teams and new facilities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21383646PubMed |
[20] Department of Health. What the TGA regulates. Canberra: Australian Government; 2019. Available at: https://www.tga.gov.au/what-tga-regulates [verified 14 March 2019].
[21] Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. American national standard. ANSI/AAMI HE75:2009/(R)2018 Human factors engineering – design of medical devices. 2010. Available at: https://my.aami.org/aamiresources/previewfiles/HE752018Preview.pdf [verified 16 September 2019].
[22] Taylor E, Hignett S, Joseph A. The environment of safe care: considering building design as one facet of safety. Proc Int Symp Hum Factors Ergonom Health Care 2014; 3 123–7.
[23] Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. About us. Sydney: ASCQHC; 2019. Available at: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/about-us [verified 1 March 2020].
