Considering Team Dynamics during Human Factors Work in Healthcare

A significant body of human factors (HF) work has focused on how people collaborate on teams in various operational settings such as aviation and nuclear power. Less work, however, has focused on the team dynamics of groups conducting HF studies. This paper describes a collaborative effort led by HF practitioners to understand and document user needs and challenges associated with the adoption of a new electronic health record (EHR) at a medical facility. By examining the challenges and opportunities presented by the interdisciplinary nature of the team, we can identify best practices for future study and change management efforts that may ultimately lead to greater organizational maturity and the development of better, safer systems.