Community Diagnostic Centres 10 Human Factors / Ergonomic principles

Select the read more links for more information about that principle and examples of the supporting data.

Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC)

There is a need for expanding diagnostic capacity in the NHS. CDCs can relieve pressure on acute sites and bring services closer to the patient.

The ten principles below represent an accessible way for including systems thinking in the design of the diagnostic workforce and CDC services.

Background: 10 Principles for design

A Human Factors / Ergonomics (HF/E) analysis was undertaken utilising a case study approach in a London community cardiac diagnostic service to contextualise lessons for design.

10 Human Factors / Ergonomics principles are described to provide an accessible way for including systems thinking in the design of community diagnostic centres.

The 10 principles involve systems analysis (IDENTIFY), systems improvement (IMPROVE) and organisational learning (ADAPT).

A system perspective

Healthcare is a sociotechnical system - whereby people interact with one another in pursuit of shared goals where they use:

  • Tools and equipment
  • Engage in tasks
  • Are governed by organisational procedures and rules
  • Move and work in a physical environment of specific characteristics

These interactions within the work system produce the care processes and outcomes

Diagram showing the Systems Engineering for Patient Safety framework, or SEIPS.
Systems Engineering for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework*
Background: Human Factors and Ergonomics

Human Factors and Ergonomics is a scientific discipline that is concerned with the design of sociotechnical systems to improve overall system performance, safety, and the wellbeing of people.

  • Interactions: HF/E considers the interactions of people with other elements of the system because outcomes are produced by these interactions rather than by any single element in isolation.
  • Design: HF/E aims to improve outcomes through system design rather than by telling people to behave differently.
  • Human well-being and overall system performance: HF/E considers a broad range of outcomes, including human well-being and quality of working life (e.g., satisfaction, stress, fatigue), and system performance (e.g., safety, effectiveness).

* HOLDEN, R. J., CARAYON, P., GURSES, A. P., HOONAKKER, P., HUNDT, A. S., OZOK, A. A. & RIVERA-RODRIGUEZ, A. J. 2013. SEIPS 2.0: a human factors framework for studying and improving the work of healthcare professionals and patients. Ergonomics, 56, 1669-1686

  • Identify

    1. 1

      Understand people's needs and capabilities

      • Who is involved?
      • What are their goals?
      • What are their characteristics?
      Read more
    2. 2

      Describe the tasks people do

      Work as imagined
      Work as done
      Read more
    3. 3

      Consider tools and equipment

        • What is it going to be used for?
        • How is it going to be used?
        • Where is it going to be used?
        • How easily can it be moved, maintained, cleaned and stored?
        • Who is going to use it?
        • What are the user's characteristics, capabilities, and needs?
        • How easy is it to understand and use it?
      Read more
    4. 4

      Assess the physical environment

      • Layout
      • Positioning of equipment
      • Noise levels
      Read more
    5. 5

      Analyse organisational structures and processes

        • Procurement
        • Workforce planning
        • Estates and infrastructure planning
        • Attitudes towards risk and safety
      Read more

  • Improve

    1. 6

      Promote autonomy and professional growth

      • Equitable access to career progression and recruitment
      • Effective training and supervision across organisations
      • Flexible skill mix and staff mobility
      • Psychologically safe environment
      Read more
    2. 7

      Focus on the needs of patients in the community

      • Access to diagnostic services quicker and closer to home
      • Enhance diagnostic capacity in primary care
      • Tailor to local contexts
      Read more
    3. 8

      Facilitate communication across organisations

        • Effective transfer of information across systems and services
        • Consider the diverse needs of different stakeholders
        • Optimise digital communication
        • Embed digital communication technologies in well-designed processes
      Read more

  • Adapt

    1. 9

      Monitor work-as-done and adapt to achieve sustainable change

      • Continuous learning process
      • Agile and adaptive approach
      Diagram showing the CIEHF organisational learning framework for achieving sustainable change.
      The CIEHF organisational learning framework for achieving sustainable change.
      Read more
    2. 10

      Record and learn from feedback and events

        • Adverse events and incidents
        • Patient experience feedback
        • Patient behaviours
        • Staff concerns and experience feedback
        • Staff behaviours
      Read more