Human factors’ is the science of improving performance by understanding individual or team behaviour and cognitive biases. Only then can we redesign our clinical systems and environment to reflect this – thereby improving patient safety
We often have to make difficult decisions in dynamic, intense, often unpredictable and challenging circumstances. Although our goal is to ensure patients always receive safe, effective, high-quality care, like all humans, healthcare staff are fallible and will make errors regardless of how experienced, committed and careful we are.
Learning from other safety-critical environments, we now understand that the design and complexity of the healthcare systems we work in all affect the likelihood that errors will occur and harm patients.
Our workshops engage and motivate participants to search for new ways of thinking and working.
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The course is led by Professor Robert Galloway MOStJ, MBBS, BSc, MFAEM, MRCP, FRCEM, PGcMedED, MAcMedED, Emergency Medicine Consultant, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust & Honorary Clinical Professor, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS).
Rob is a Consultant in Emergency Medicine and dual trained in Intensive Care Medicine.
His medical interests are in improving patient outcomes through changing ‘systems of care’ from use of human factors and new cognitive decision- making approaches to new approaches in patient pathways and staff welfare. His impact on changing NHS practices saw him awarded the HSJ’s Top Ten Wild Card Influencers in 2021.
Education is his passion; leading undergraduate Emergency Medicine at BSMS. He has also written and delivered courses on critical appraisal as well as patient safety. He has written numerous academic publications and two textbooks.
He is a medical advisor and lead Crowd Doctor for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club and is the Medical Director of the Brighton Marathon. He works in the media writing about medical issues and wrote a book, under a pseudo name, Dr Nick Edwards, about working in A&E which has sold over 400,000 copies “In stitches the highs and lows of life as an A&E Doctor.”
He used to have a social life, hobbies and a personality. But he is now happily engaged with three older kids and a baby, so is more likely to be found changing nappies and being a taxi service!
