The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Patient Safety Learning Lab

Under the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Patient Safety Learning Laboratories (PSLLs) take a systems engineering approach to allow researchers and healthcare providers to evaluate clinical processes and enhance work and information flow to improve patient safety. AHRQ's PSLLs have the potential to improve the safety of healthcare as they inform providers, health educators, payers, policymakers, patients, and the public about the practical and effective use of systems engineering approaches in improving patient safety.

CAPE’s Director and Founder, Dr. Lou Halamek, is the PI for an ongoing PSLL grant, “Applying Human Factors Science, Design Thinking, and Systems Engineering To Mitigate Threats to Neonates Undergoing Resuscitation and Stabilization” which focuses on improving three specific aspects of neonatal resuscitation: (1) the design of the physical workspace; (2) decision making during this invasive procedure; and (3) human-technology interaction. The results of this work will further build on CAPE’s mission of improving human and system performance and even extend beyond the field of neonatal resuscitation, affecting other complex, safety-critical, time-pressured healthcare domains involving surgical, emergency, and intensive care of pediatric, obstetric, and adult patients.