Healthcare Human Factors Lab

About Us

The Healthcare Human Factors Lab (HHFL) leverages a cross-disciplinary team to deepen our understanding of healthcare workers and the equipment, technology, and environments with which they interact. We see the complexity and demand of healthcare workers’ jobs and seek, first and foremost, to make those jobs safer and easier, enabling healthcare workers to focus on providing excellent patient care.

Our Approach

We seek to improve healthcare by combining innovative science with human factors evaluation and design.

Research

Our team utilizes a unique combination of laboratory and field research methods to study complex healthcare scenarios in a structured setting. With this approach, we can develop a deep understanding of healthcare workers and the systems with which they interact safely and efficiently.

Evaluation

Evaluations can assess medical equipment or processes for usability, efficiency, user satisfaction, and safety. We conduct usability evaluations to help healthcare partners make evidence-based procurement decisions and develop recommendations for best practices.

Design

Findings from research and evaluation are translated into potential solutions. These ideas are tested, revised, and refined in collaboration with users and other key stakeholders. The aim is to quickly identify and correct issues before building out a full solution.

Translation

Embedded within Emory University Hospital, we are uniquely positioned to rapidly implement solutions, be it a demonstration study or formal roll-out. In addition, we are developing training and fellowship programs for healthcare workers to teach them how to use human factors methods to solve everyday clinical problems.