Utilising a human factors approach in your Spine practice
4th International Conference on Spine and Spinal Disorders
September 03-04, 2019 | London, UK
Rafid Al-Mahfoudh
Brighton and Sussex University Hospital, UK
Scientific Tracks Abstracts : J Neurol Neurorehabil Res
Abstract:
Ergonomics in healthcare has emerged as a pivotal science
with novel approaches. Unprecedented levels of both
waste reduction and product quality have been achieved in
industry and manufacturing on the basis of process mapping,
engineering principles and lean methodology.
Systems and processes that may reduce errors and improve
performance in Spine surgery include standardisation and
checklists (developed to enhance teamwork and improve
handover) e.g. the implementation of the WHO Checklist has
been shown to reduce inpatient mortality. Others include
optimising the surgical environment, investigating errors,
attention to ergonomics and equipment design, enhancing
communication and team performance. An understanding
of the principles of human factors and the implementation
of this discipline can have a profoundly positive influence in
spine practice from the ward to the theatre environment.
Healthcare practitioners should embrace these concepts with
the ultimate goal of delivering a high quality service. We
emphasise that errors and inefficiencies in patient care arise
not from the solitary actions of individuals but from conflicting,
incomplete, or suboptimal systems. Human factors can be
used to elucidate system errors when suboptimal healthcare
outcomes arise.
Biography:
Rafid Al-Mahfoudh is an appointed Consultant Neurosurgeon and Complex Spine Surgeon in Brighton and London. He is senior lecturer at the University of Brighton. He is one very few surgeons with dual orthopaedic and Neurosurgical spine accreditation in addition to further specialist fellowship training in anterior skull base and minimally invasive neurosurgery in Adelaide and New York. He is honorary senior lecturer at the University of Sussex.
E-mail: rafid@spineandbrain.co.uk
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