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About the Human Factors Short Course
The goal of this short course is to introduce Human Factors science and its application to healthcare. Human Factors (also referred to as Ergonomics) is concerned with the understanding of the interactions between humans and other elements of a complex system. The goal of Human Factors science is to apply theory, methods and principles to optimise the design of systems to enhance human performance and overall system safety (International Ergonomics Association, 2019). Think of medical device design, simulation-based training, design of guidelines and protocols, team dynamics and organisational management.
Course objectives
- The broad and diverse discipline of Human Factors and why Human Factors science is essential to healthcare.
- How to perform Human Factors research in healthcare using key Human Factors methods such as hierarchical task analysis, user-centred design and AcciMap.
- Specific examples of how to apply Human Factors research methods to healthcare challenges such as interruption management and teamwork in time pressured emergencies.
- Resilience Engineering as a recent movement within Human Factors Engineering and the important role of strengthening resilient performance in healthcare.
Time Commitment:
6 hours per week (on average)
Information
- Online only, no assessment.
- Participants are required to review 6 topics (one per week).
- Ideal for international students who reside outside of Australia/New Zealand.
- Allows for flexibility in work patterns – Once released, lectures and reading material can be viewed at own pace.
- Suits participants who have a busy schedule.
- No on-campus attendance required.
- Certificate of completion emailed at the end of the course.
Course Flyer
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Eligibility
Anyone who is interested in Human Factors can register for this course.
- Hospital Doctors
- General Practitioners
- Public Health clinicians
- Allied health practitioners
- Health service managers
- Quality and Safety managers
Why participate?
Human Factors (Ergonomics) is an established discipline in many industries such as manufacturing, power generation and military settings. The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES www.hfes.org) has been established over 60 years, but only recently has its importance in the delivery of safe, effective health care been recognised.
Human factors as a science seeks to design the work environment to make best use of the human operator to improve efficiency and safety. In terms of health, this includes the processes, equipment and training for delivery of high-quality care.
This course will provide an introduction to the practical application of human factors principles to organisational and clinical settings. By doing so, it will encourage the participants to improve patient safety at a managerial or clinical level with a broader base of skills than is commonly available within health services.
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Course structure
SIX Topics will be offered in this Course in weekly basis.
No Assessments.
Course topics
- Human Factors Engineering and varieties of human work by Dr. Steve Shorrock
- Studying interruptions in healthcare System resilience in healthcare by Dr. Chiara Santomauro Dr. Sudeep Hegde
- User centred design and designing for team work by Dr. Mia McLanders
- Hierarchical Task Analysis by Stuart Dickinson
- AcciMap and other system techniques by Assoc. Prof. Sharon Newnam, Dr. Natassia Goode
- System resilience in healthcare by Dr. Sudeep Hegde
Please Note: Topics will be subject to change. Last Updated: December 2020
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RPL
Further opportunities for professional development in human factors / ergonomics are available by completing unit POM5005 Human factors for patient safety. This master’s unit deals with organisation wide issues (macroergonomics) and is an elective unit in the Master of Health Services Management and Master of Public Health programs.
There are future plans to develop a master’s program in clinical human factors. Should these be realised, requirements to accept this short course as contributing to this degree will be communicated to short course participants.
Unit POM5005 information is available here
CPD
Whilst this course is not directly registered for CPD points please contact your respective College to see if CPD points are possible.
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2021 March course
Week Available Date Topic Name Lecturer Wednesday 13 January Registrations opens Sunday 21 March Registration closes 12pm 22 March Website opens - 1 week prior to course starting
Topic 1: Introduction to Human Factors Engineering and varieties of human workDr. Steve Shorrock 1 29 March Topic 2: Studying interruptions in healthcare Dr. Chiara Santomauro 2 5 April Topic 3: User centred design and designing for team work Dr. Mia McLanders 3 12 April Topic 4: Hierarchical Task Analysis Stuart Dickinson 4 19 April Topic 5: AcciMap and other system techniques Assoc. Prof. Sharon Newnam, Dr. Natassia Goode 5 26 April Topic 6: Resilience Engineering in healthcare Dr. Sudeep Hegde 6 3 May Final Week of the Course 10 May Final Survey and Certificates 7 June Course Completion and Website Access Disabled
2021 August course
Week Available Date Topic Name Lecturer Wednesday 13 January Registrations opens Sunday 15 August Registration closes 12 pm 16 August Website opens - 1 week prior to course starting
Topic 1: Introduction to Human Factors Engineering and varieties of human workDr. Steve Shorrock 1 23 August Topic 2: Studying interruptions in healthcare Dr. Chiara Santomauro 2 30 August Topic 3: User centred design and designing for team work Dr. Mia McLanders 3 6 September Topic 4: Hierarchical Task Analysis Stuart Dickinson 4 13 September Topic 5: AcciMap and other system techniques Assoc. Prof. Sharon Newnam, Dr. Natassia Goode 5 20 September Topic 6: Resilience Engineering in healthcare Dr. Sudeep Hegde 6 27 September Final Week of the Course 4 October Final Survey and Certificates 1 November Course Completion and Website Access Disabled -
Course Convenors
Dr. Stuart Marshall
Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Medical Education, University of Melbourne and Senior Research Fellow, Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Monash University.Mr. Garry Mann
Human Factors practitioner, working in Perioperative Medicine and Anaesthesia at Alfred Health and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Graduated from the University of Queensland in 2019 with First Class Honours.
Our Speakers
Assoc. Prof. Sharon Newnam
Organisational Psychologist, Monash University Accident Research Centre.Dr. Steven Shorrock
Adj. Assoc. Prof. Centre for Human Factors & Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast, Psychologist, Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist.Dr. Mia McLanders
Adj. Lecturer University of Queensland, PhD in Psychology, The University of QueenslandDr. Chiara Santomauro
Adj. Lecturer University of Queensland, PhD in Human Factors Psychology, University of Queensland.Dr. Sudeep Hegde
Research Associate, Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering from the University at Buffalo, New YorkDr. Natassia Goode
Ergonomist at WorkSafe Victoria, Adj. Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems, University of the Sunshine Coast.Mr. Stuart Dickinson
Human Factors Specialist -
Introduction by Dr Stuart Marshall
Human Factors/Ergonomics for COVID-19 by Prof. Sue Hignett
Integrating the social sciences into the COVID-19 pandemic response by Prof. Jan Davies
Simulation-informed clinical design in the emergency department by A/Prof. Andrew Petrosoniak
COVID-19 and the Intensive Care Unit by A/Prof. Chris Nickson
Panel Discussion: Human Factors: FREE 1.5hr Webinar - Lessons from COVID-19 in Critical Care
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2021 Registrations Now open
OPEN
Wednesday, 13 January 10 AM AEST - for both March and August courses
CLOSE
- March Course - Sunday, 21 March
- August Course - Sunday, 15 August
Register AUD $700 (inc GST)
Refund Policy
- Up to four weeks before the Course
- 100% Refund
- Two to four weeks before the Course
- 50% Refund
- Less than two weeks before the Course
- No Refund
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