Improving Patient Safety by Applying Human Factors Practices

HumanCentric Technologies Sr. Engineer Presents at Annual HIMMS Conference. Applying user-centered design to healthcare IT systems can improve patient safety by reducing the risk of costly human errors.

Cary, N.C.-- Applying user-centered design to healthcare IT systems can improve patient safety by reducing the risk of costly human errors. HumanCentric Technologies announces today that Kristine Delano, sr. human factors engineer, will present at the HIMMS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) 2003 Annual Conference this week in San Diego. Her presentation focuses on the implementation of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) programs across hospital information systems. More than 19,000 professional are attending the five-day conference which runs through February 14.

As healthcare systems and services increase in sophistication, human capabilities and limitations become more important," said Delano. The goal is to design and implement a system that decreases human errors and increases patient safety."

Delano added, In medicine, the results of even a missing decimal can be fatal. Im honored to help educate professionals about a programmatic approach that defines human factors techniques within the hospital information infrastructure."

The presentation will help professionals not only identify needs, but provide a strategy for building an HFE program within their own organization. Human factors can be applied to hardware, software, procedures and human interfaces.

Kristine Delano is a senior human factors engineer for HumanCentric Technologies, Inc. Active in the field for eight years, her professional expertise includes medical systems, consumer electronics, Web site evaluations, occupational ergonomics and computer prototyping. She received a masters degree from North Carolina State University in Industrial Engineering and a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Lehigh University.

About HIMSS:
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society provides leadership in healthcare for the advancement and management of information technology. Chicago-based HIMSS provides services up to 13,000 members, including worldwide healthcare corporations, frims and professionals. With 41 chapters and 20 special interest groups, HIMSS directs and shapes the healthcare industry, encourages emerging technology and promotes public policies to improve healthcare delivery. Visit: www.himss.org.

About HumanCentric Technologies:
Headquartered in Cary, N.C., HCT partners with clients to develop products that result in positive user experiences. As a human factors and usability engineering firm, HCT provides user research, interface design, product testing and interaction evaluation services within the medical, telecommunications, consumer products, financial and power generation industries. Visit: www.humancentrictech.com.