Mini course · Intermediate level
Human Factors in Healthcare
Design work around how people really think, see and tire, and errors become harder to make.
What is Human Factors in Healthcare?
Human factors is the science of how people interact with their environment, equipment, tasks and each other. In healthcare, it explains why skilled professionals still make predictable errors, and how better design can prevent them. This course covers attention, memory and situational awareness, cognitive biases, fatigue and stress, interruptions, equipment and environment design, checklists and standardisation, and team communication, using real-world clinical examples.
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Lessons
- 5
- Level
- Intermediate
- Format
- Online, self-paced
What you'll be able to do
- Explain how limits of attention and memory contribute to error
- Identify cognitive biases influencing a described clinical decision
- Recognise the effects of fatigue, stress and interruptions on performance
- Evaluate equipment or a workspace for design-related risk
- Apply checklists and standardisation appropriately
- Use structured communication to maintain shared situational awareness
Who this course is for
Course content
5 lessons · 1.5 hours total · free preview available
1Why Skilled People Make Errors
18 minFree preview· Course content
Why Skilled People Make Errors
Error types and the limits of human performance.
2Situational Awareness and Bias
20 min· Course content
Situational Awareness and Bias
Available after you enroll.
3Fatigue, Stress and Interruptions
18 min· Course content
Fatigue, Stress and Interruptions
Available after you enroll.
4Designing Safer Systems
18 min· Course content
Designing Safer Systems
Available after you enroll.
5Teams and Communication
16 min· Course content
Teams and Communication
Available after you enroll.
Earn a credential employers can check
Every AIHCM credential has a unique ID that anyone can verify online in seconds.
Issued: on completion
How it works
- Finish all 5 lessons at your own pace.
- Get your digital credential with a unique ID.
- Share it — employers can verify it at aihcm.us.
Questions people ask
Where does human factors science come from?
It developed in aviation, the military and industry, and has been widely adapted to healthcare safety.
Does human factors excuse individual mistakes?
No. It explains why errors happen so systems can be improved, and it supports a fair, just culture rather than blame.
Should everything have a checklist?
No. Checklists help in specific situations; the course explains when they work and when they add burden.
Should I take Patient Safety Fundamentals first?
It is recommended but not required.