How the pandemic shone a light on Human Factors
Greg Thay, managing director of Thay Medical, deliberates just how important human factors has become with the development of medical technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two years ago, we lived in a world not yet familiar with the word ‘COVID-19.’ It is amazing to think that one word could affect the planet in such a dramatic way. Obviously, in a negative way – knowing the true number of COVID-19 related deaths is likely to be above what any government may publicly portray. But in a positive way this pandemic has improved our lives in many ways – especially in healthcare.
The improvements have been forced upon us all, and amazingly we all have adopted them, accepted the changes, and implemented them without bias or negativity. We all know how severe COVID-19 can be, and it is the uncertainty of its effect that makes it more unpredictable, yet we have found solutions in vaccines, prevention, and recovery of the virus and in how we live day to day.
One science that was brought to the attention of the world was Human Factors Engineering. From the onset, a user or patient focussed approach to preventing people from getting COVID-19 was adopted – the restrictions, the lockdowns, the focus on personal protective equipment (PPE) and the changes in lifestyle we all had to make all helped in some way. The population of healthcare workers had no choice but to protect themselves and their colleagues to look after the volumes of patients who required assistance and hospitalisation. These front-line workers, along with others outside of healthcare, put other lives ahead of their own and some paid the price for this. They will not be forgotten. And they helped to improve healthcare, making it safer.
We learnt to develop medical devices quickly – ventilators, personal protective equipment, and telemedicine. Software became vital for day-to-day living, as did a good internet connection. In healthcare, appointments and consultations with physicians went online, medical devices were improved to incorporate telemedicine and the Internet of Things. We became more connected even though we were isolated. Within hospitals, Human Factors became vital to understand workflows, connectivity, and interactions between healthcare workers. Where clinical practices had been established over time, many were again assessed to protect the patient and the clinician from the potential for transmission of COVID-19. The focus on PPE made paramount – the 3D printing of face shields now a distant memory, but one we should not forget. Not just because we found a solution for the inadequate supply of these products, but for the positive effect of people working together to find a solution to protect those on the front-line of the pandemic.
Another area that was improved using Human Factors Engineering was risk management. Where workflows and procedures were revised to include protective measure, they were tested before implementation, evaluated for the outcome and improved where deficient. This is a Human Factors Engineering process. These workflows were assessed for the potential for harm, the probabilities for virus transmission and mitigations implemented – an example being the flow of movement. We now accept in many buildings, single routes through corridors and in open areas, with signs and instructions on where to walk, in which direction and how far apart we should be. In some cases, this has made workflows more efficient, but has definitely made them safer. Risk Management is even more important now.
Additionally, we all have learnt more about physical ergonomics – a vital of part of Human Factors Engineering. Working from home for many office workers has meant looking at our own working set-up, our own equipment and furniture and making decisions on what is best to prevent repetitive strain injuries, back troubles, and musculoskeletal disorders. We learnt quickly how important desk-chair height ratios were, how important distance reading was, how lighting could affect eye strain and how balancing work and health were to maintain our lifestyles which we wanted. The Human Factors, Health and Safety, and Ergonomics organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) took a responsible approach and invited its experts to publish best practices such as how to develop ventilators, how to create safe workplaces and how to manage patients with COVID-19 in healthcare settings. All to guide the public and healthcare on the optimal route through this pandemic.