The Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) workforce development team will host a Nursing and Interprofessional Research Lunch & Learn on Thursday, July 10th from Noon to 1PM ET, featuring Melinda Jamil, Human Factors Engineering Director at Advocate Health. This is a bimonthly seminar to inform and promote the development of nursing science and interprofessional research.
During this session, Melinda will define the science of human factors engineering (HFE) and how it applies in healthcare and other industries. She will share a case study to demonstrate HFE methods at work in of our hospitals. Our healthcare system aimed to enhance the usability and accuracy of seizure assessments in a new Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) by adapting a European seizure assessment tool. Using HFE and translational simulation, we iteratively tested and refined the tool and work system. EMU nurses must support patients during seizures with specific assessments, which are critical for diagnosis and treatment. Our approach involved multidisciplinary collaboration, including nurses, epileptologists, and simulation experts, to develop and evaluate the adapted tool. We incorporated iterative design updates based on performance observations and feedback, followed by ongoing training and feedback sessions. This approach increased nurse confidence and preparedness, ensuring the tool met user needs. This example emphasizes the value of integrating HFE and simulation early in process design to enhance safety, efficiency, and user satisfaction in healthcare settings.
Speaker Information:
Melinda Jamil brings 20 years of expertise in human factors research and user-centered design, spanning health technology, in-vehicle transportation safety, and aviation. Joining Advocate in 2018, she now serves as the Human Factors Engineering Director, based outside of Chicago. In this role, Melinda collaborates with nurses, clinical informaticists, patient safety managers, simulation specialists and all types of teammates to identify system issues and design solutions that enhance the safety, effectiveness, and well-being of both patients and teammates. She holds a BS in Design and Environmental Analysis from Cornell University and an MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, both with concentrations in Human Factors Engineering and Ergonomics.