Implementing a Systems Engineering Intervention for Improving Safety in Outpatient Surgeries

Excerpt

This paper describes the systems engineering intervention the researchers implemented in their study of patient safety in outpatient surgery. The intervention process is based on the SEIPS (Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety) model of work-system and patient safety. The paper provides details on the steps in the intervention process (e.g., overall structure, decisionmaking criteria for selection of intervention, participants) and the various data collection tools and methods that were used at each step of the intervention process. The systems engineering intervention process consists of three steps: (1) defining and designing the content and the implementation plan of the intervention, (2) implementing the intervention, and (3) institutionalizing the intervention. Data collection methods used for defining and designing the intervention include an initial employee questionnaire and patient shadowing. An employee questionnaire and a patient survey are the two methods used to evaluate the impact of the systems engineering intervention.