Applying Human Factors to the Procurement of Electrosurgical Medical Devices: A Case Study

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Abstract
Human factors evaluations are currently not conducted as part of the procurement process for medical devices in most hospitals. The complexity of medical devices and interactions between those devices, the working environment and the people who use them can create a high potential for errors. This study reports on the methods used to integrate human factors usability testing into the product evaluation of electrosurgical units (ESU's) prior to procurement. It also comments on the results of the various testing methods and the impact of the results on the final purchasing decision. The results of the human factors evaluations were used to make a purchasing decision for a major metropolitan hospital in Canada. A new purchase was necessary because the manufacturer was no longer supporting the product in use. Surprisingly, the product of choice was the oldest on the market with few new features. It was preferred and chosen based on usability and clinical acceptance by all users.

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