Years ago, the most common question I got was, “where do I go to learn more about human factors engineering?”  The the length and breadth of my answer did evolve as more workshops and books (including our own) came on the scene.  Funny, very few people thought it was funny when I said that they could go back to school and get a masters degree in HFE in just a few short years!  I was only partially kidding, since I knew that some of the design or safety questions they would tackle could easily be major essay questions on graduate level tests – or even research theses.

Many people now ask different questions:  who should I hire?  where can I find them?  [These are harder questions, so I reminisce about the old days of the easier questions above.]  The question arises frequently enough, that we devoted part of a chapter in our recent book to this.

Simply stated, it is only a small problem to find people with masters degrees or PhDs in human factors engineering.  That is not enough.  They need one or more other qualities.  Below, and in the next 4 postings, I will describe and give examples of some of those needed qualities for an HFE and Medicine specialist:

1. Bartender
2. Bean-packing plant safety manager
3. Lifeguard
4. Set designer
5. Wilderness survival expert

Skills of a bartender (or, if you will, ombudsman) are key!  Your HFE will need to be able to listen, and listen, and listen.  Those 40 minutes of seemingly irrelevant stories are the needed lead-in for a patient to reveal the real problem they have with the device or medication delivery system.  The HFE needs to be trusted by the usability test participant clinicians when they see “interesting” usage of devices or medications.  They should have a ready supply of (NON-ALCOHOLIC) drinks and other pleasantries to set the stage for stressful design meetings.  Sometimes, especially during “last call”, they need to summon jaw-dropping honesty about bad things that might happen if the product goes “out” - and be willing to stand up to peer pressure.  Finally, be prepared to help out with lots of jobs, clean up messes, and know how to fix things on “the fly”.