Healthcare Ergonomics

The Healthcare Ergonomics Special Interest Group brings together professionals across healthcare involved in the care of patients, prevention or treatment of occupational injury, or in improving the design and performance of the healthcare system.Healthcare has changed substantially in the last 20 years, both in terms of the technology, sophistication, complexity and cost of potential treatments, but also in the organisation, management and delivery of care.

In the past, healthcare has not received as much human factors and ergonomics attention as other industries, but there is now an increasing interest in how this expertise can help protect staff, and deliver cheaper, faster, safer, higher quality care to patients. The role of the SIG is to support the profession in their work in healthcare, and to support the healthcare industry in the appropriate deployment of this expertise.

Though the principle concerns of the group are in patient safety, and the treatment and avoidance of musculoskeletal disorders, given the breadth of ergonomics issues in healthcare, this should not discourage those with other interests or experience from joining in or contributing.