Table 1.

Key Elements of Macroergonomics for Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety

Key Elements of Macroergonomics	Examples of Macroergonomic Applications to Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Systems approach	Work system changes related to health IT implementation Physical environment impact on healthcare team member communication with patients and families during bedside rounds
Joint optimization of performance and well-being	Work system characteristics impact on both worker and patient safety/outcomes Health IT impact on patient safety and clinician quality of working life Consideration of both occupational safety and health of healthcare workers and patient safety
Consideration of organizational and sociotechnical context	Health IT implementation principles Coordination of patient care and patient-related information between hospital and primary care clinic
System interactions and levels (e.g., relationship between micro- and macro-ergonomic elements)	Organizational decision regarding purchasing of medical device and its impact on clinician work Unit-based decision regarding nurse staffing and impact on nurse workload
Implementation process	Participatory ergonomic approach to redesign bedside rounding process to enhance patient-centered care