| | December 20198UTLOOK Healthcare Tech Simulation Steering the Healthcare Space AheadBy Bruce L Gewertz, MD,Surgeon-in-Chief Chair, Department of Surgery, H & S Nichols, Distinguished Chair, Vice Dean, Academic Affairs, Vice President, Interventional Services, Cedars-Sinai Health System, Tara Cohen, PhD, Human Factors Research Scientist, Assistant Professor, Surgery, Co-Director, Gewertz and Cohen Laboratory (OR360), Department of Surgery, Cedars Sinai Health System;Russell D Metcalfe-Smith, FHEA MSc NRP CHSE-A, Associate Director, Simulation, Cedars-Sinai Health SystemBruce L GewertzIN MY OPINIONWhile healthcare in the U.S. is among the best in the world, the delivery of that care is an incredibly complex task. Medical professionals are consistently faced with a number of challenges such as needing to integrate with progressively complicated technological devices, communicate and coordinate among various team members across multiple specialties, problem solve on the spot for complex cases where there are unforeseen patient challenges, and manage cost and time limitations mandated by various organizations. As a result of these complexities, medical errors can do occur across all healthcare systems. Many have turned to the field of human factors and systems engineering to identify areas of systemic weakness and improve patient safety. Human factors involves the application of knowledge about humans and their behavior to the analysis and design of systems so that total system performance is optimized. In other words, human factors focus on applying a systems perspective to safety and efficiency. Rather than focusing on individual challenges within an organization (e.g., redesigning a certain piece of technology) without plan or purpose, the goal of human factors is to analyze and improve the entire system by identifying and individually targeting its various components in a systematic way. One proactive approach to patient safety and provider performance involves utilizing Simulation. The increasing expansion of Simulation across healthcare systems increases globally with larger and more complex facilities being developed. The traditional approach of `see one, do one, teach one' is becoming a practice which is not accepted by healthcare providers, and patients. The well published concerns associated with error in healthcare are driving the need for change. The concept of practice, practice, practice prior to ever touching a patient is slowly becoming embedded in healthcare systems. Cedars Sinai Health System has invested in multiple approaches to enhance the quality of patient care through education, research and systems integration. The Gewertz and Cohen Laboratory (also called OR360) is a human factors and innovation laboratory which focuses on human factors research and systems testing while
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