2024 Human Factors in Healthcare: Designing Safe Systems

Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine

Offered in March and August 2025
Download the course flyerDownload Course Flyer


2024 Registrations Closed.

The course has been accredited by the UK Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), indicating that it has been rigorously assessed as having high-quality content and delivery.

  • Why do the course

    If you are motivated to improve the safety and quality of care for patients and the quality of working life for staff, this course will systematically introduce you to the knowledge and skills of the Human Factors discipline.

    Human Factors is a science that applies knowledge of human physical, cognitive and social abilities to design safe systems of care. In clinical settings this includes the safe design of technologies such as electronic prescribing software, electronic medical records, robotic surgery and AI. The sociotechnical perspective of Human Factors ensures that the technical elements are well designed and suited for use, and the social aspects of clinical work, such as communication and teamwork are optimised.

    Because of this dual focus, Human Factors is ideally suited to understanding how to improve the complex, dynamic systems of healthcare today.

    The aims of the course are to introduce the skills and methods used by human factors practitioners. Participants will learn how human factors can be applied to common healthcare problems such as medication safety, teamwork and leadership, and device safety through video lectures, readings and self-directed learning. There is a course forum where participants can interact with others and discuss challenges in practice.

     

    Objectives

    • Explain human factors principles and approaches to healthcare quality and safety.
    • Explain the key features of effective teamwork.
    • Understand human factors problems involved in medication safety.
    • Identify safety risks of medical devices and the role of design and usability in reducing risks.
    • Explain the limitations of learning from incident reporting and understand alternative approaches.
    • Explain how Human Factors professionals can help to understand and improve staff physical and mental safety.
    • Understand the Human Factors challenges involved in everyday care and actions for implementing Human Factors principles in the workplace.
     

    Course Dates

    • March Course: 25 March – 10 May 2024
    • August Course: 19 August - 4 October 2024
     

    Information

    • Seven week course and seven course modules (one released each week).
    • Allows for flexibility in work patterns – once a module is released weekly, lectures and reading material can be viewed at own pace and at any time.
    • Online only, no on-campus attendance required.
    • Each course module consists of a reading package, journal articles, short videos, podcasts and knowledge check sections or a combination.
    • No assessments (nor minimum pass mark).
    • All participants have extra one month to access the course modules.
    • You can download the Certificate of Completion at the end of the course if you have accessed and completed all the course modules and the final course survey.
     

    Time Commitment:

    4 - 6 hours per week (on average)

     
  • Eligibility

    Anyone who is interested in patient safety, quality improvement and Human Factors can register for this course. Specifically, the course is aimed at:

    • Physicians
    • Nurses
    • Pharmacists
    • Allied health practitioners
    • Health service managers
    • Quality and Safety managers
    • Researchers
     
  • Course Structure

    Seven course modules will be offered in this course which are released on a weekly basis.

    There are no assessments for this short course.

    • Module 1: Introduction to Human Factors in Healthcare
    • Module 2: Teams, leadership and communication
    • Module 3: Medication Safety
    • Module 4: Devices and Technology
    • Module 5: Incident reporting and learning from the error
    • Module 6: Staff safety
    • Module 7: Case study

    Please Note: Course modules may be subject to change.
    Last Updated: Dec 2023

  • 2024 March course

    WeekScheduled DateModule Name
      Friday 12 January Registrations open
      Monday 25 March 11:59 PM AEST Registrations close
    1 Monday 25 March Introduction to Human Factors in Healthcare
    2 Monday 1 April Teams Leadership and Communication
    3 Monday 8 April Medication Safety
    4 Monday 15 April Devices and Technology
    5 Monday 22 April Incident Reporting and Learning from Error
    6 Monday 29 April Staff Safety
    7 Monday 6 May Case Study
      Monday 13 May – Monday 10 June Certificates issued (All of the course modules have to be reviewed to obtain the Certificate of Completion)
      Monday 10 June 11:59 AEST Course completion and website access disabled

     

     

    2024 August course

    WeekScheduled DateModule Name
      Friday 12 January Registrations open
      Monday 19 August 11:59 PM AEST Registrations close
    1 Monday 19 August Introduction to Human Factors in Healthcare
    2 Monday 26 August Teams Leadership and Communication
    3 Monday 2 September Medication Safety
    4 Monday 9 September Devices and Technology
    5 Monday 16 September Incident Reporting and Learning from Error
    6 Monday 23 September Staff Safety
    7 Monday 30 September Case Study
      Monday 7 October – Monday 4 November Certificates issued (All of the course modules have to be reviewed to obtain the Certificate of Completion)
      Monday 4 November 11:59 PM AEST Course completion and website access disabled
  • Continual Professional Development

    The course has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), which is the UK professional body for Ergonomists and Human Factors Professionals. This accreditation signifies that the course has met high standards of content and training in the field of Ergonomics and Human Factors. Completing a CIEHF accredited course demonstrates competence and enhances career prospects in roles related to design, safety, and usability

    Other Colleges and Institutes

    Whilst this course is not directly registered for CPD points please contact your respective College to see if CPD points are possible.

    For students wanting to claim CPD through ANZCA, their CPD guide refers to 1 CPD point per hour on work related to formal courses; "A structured course or higher education program provided by a recognised tertiary institution, such as a university, that is directly relevant to medical practice (any one of the ANZCA/FPM roles in practice). Completion of the course/program leads to the award of a formal qualification such as a certificate, diploma or masters.”

  • Our Team

    Prof Janet Anderson

    Prof Janet Anderson

    Course Director
    Janet Anderson is Professor of Human Factors in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Monash University, an honorary professor at the University of Stavanger, Norway. She has held academic positions at University of Surrey (2004-2008), King’s College London (2008-2020), and City, University of London (2020-2021). She is a long-standing member of the UK Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors and was the leader of the Healthcare Special Interest Group in 2013-16. The aim of her research is to improve the quality and safety of care using Human Factors theories and frameworks. She is an expert in resilient healthcare systems, organisations and teams and has pioneered the development of theories, methods and guidance in this area.
    Mr Garry Mann

    Mr Garry Mann

    Course Facilitator
    Garry Mann is a Human Factors Research Assistant at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Monash University, and member of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (US). He graduated from the University of Queensland (2019) and University of Technology, Sydney (2012) and has a strong interest in cognitive psychology and decision making. His Honours thesis investigated the ability of non-clinicians to comprehend novel speech-based alarm sounds while performing simultaneous linguistic or spatial tasks. His current work focuses on quality and safety improvement for healthcare workers and patients, with an emphasis on perioperative care. Garry previously worked as an analytical chemist, specialising in radiochemistry and has a keen interest in forensic science.
     
    Ms Raphaela Schnittker

    Dr Raphaela Schnittker

    Adjunct Lecturer
    Raphaela Schnittker currently works at Safer Care Victoria (Victoria, Australia) as a Human Factors Specialist. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at the Department of Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine at Monash University. Raphaela holds a PhD in Human Factors from Monash University as well as a Masters degree in Human Factors Psychology and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Twente (Enschede, the Netherlands). Raphaela has worked in applying Human Factors science to healthcare settings for the last ten years, both in Academia and government.
     

  • Registrations

    2024 Registrations Closed.

    Doctors: AUD $900 (inc GST)
    Health Professionals/Other: AUD $400 (including GST)

    Please note:
    Evidence of Nursing or Allied Health Professional Certification will be required at the time of Registration for approval of the lower fee category.

    Express Interest for 2025


    Refund Policy

    Up to four weeks before the Course
    100% Refund
    Two to four weeks before the Course
    50% Refund
  • New Enquiry

    Please click here to
    make an new enquiry.

    Enquire Now

    Expression Of Interest

    Click here to express your interest

    Express Interest