Human Factors and Simulation in Emergency Medicine

This consensus group from the 2017 Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference “Catalyzing System Change through Health Care Simulation: Systems, Competency, and Outcomes” held in Orlando, Florida, on May 16, 2017, focused on the use of human factors ( HF ) and simulation in the field of emergency medicine ( EM ). The HF discipline is often underutilized within EM but has significant potential in improving the interface between technologies and individuals in the field. The discussion explored the domain of HF , its benefits in medicine, how simulation can be a catalyst for HF work in EM , and how EM can collaborate with HF professionals to effect change. Implementing HF in EM through health care simulation will require a demonstration of clinical and safety outcomes, advocacy to stakeholders and administrators, and establishment of structured collaborations between HF professionals and EM , such as in this breakout group.