Try as we might – despite our greatest efforts and accomplishments – humans have yet to create the perfect technology, one which subsists independently of human support and influence. We have developed great advances in medicine, tremendous engineering feats, and have achieved the power to imbue machines with pseudo-intelligence and the ability to calculate, reason, solve problems, and perform complex tasks on our behalf. And yet, we have failed to create a system in which we are nonessential. Regardless of advances in nanorobotics, wearable technologies, or anti-bacterial lighting for our operating rooms, humans remain ever present—the greatest variable in the healthcare industry.
Technology has afforded us many advancements in healthcare. However, accountability remains on the part of us humans, and it is through careful examinations and diligence that we may ensure optimal results.
Human factors, as defined by the World Health Organization, is the study of the relationship between human beings and the systems with which we interact. It is the examination of the synergy between us and the technology we have created to better assist our efforts. By focusing on human factors as they relate to healthcare, we can hope to better understand our individual and collective roles on outcomes pertaining to patient safety, reliability, and overall performance.
By understanding and evaluating human factors, healthcare professionals can make decisions based on real-life circumstances and probable scenarios. As humans are prone to factors such as fatigue and stress, it is essential to accommodate for these faults when designing healthcare plans, systems, and tools. By accounting for these likely scenarios and setbacks, we can establish realistic goals and procedures to improve work processes throughout the healthcare industry.
Evaluating human factors is key to solving problems and improving methods and procedures. Only by learning from our own mistakes can we hope to create a culture that embraces thoughtfulness and promotes progress. If, for example, a patient develops an infection following a routine surgery, it is essential to delve beyond our technologies for answers and evaluate the actions and methods of those involved. By analyzing these human factors, decisions can then be made to increase staff education, augment methodologies, or evaluate tools and medicines.
We have come a long way in how we administer healthcare. We have made countless advancements, eradicated diseases, developed life-saving procedures, unified networks of professionals, fostered increased communication between caregivers and their patients, and much more. But we will never be able to reach our full potential without the basic understanding of the role humans play in medicine. By truly understanding human factors – our relationship with the technologies we have created – we can continue to better ourselves, empowering us with the clarity and judgement necessary to make those crucial decisions which will lead us further into the future of healthcare.