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Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care
Human factors is a discipline that seeks to optimize the relationship between technology, the environment, systems, and humans. In health care, it is an essential component for mitigating risks to both patients and the workforce.
The Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care (CPHFH) credential is earned by demonstrating a high level of proficiency in applying the core standards of human factors, systems thinking, and design to health care improvement.
Certification is awarded upon passing a comprehensive examination covering three key domains: Assess and Analyze, which involves evaluating and understanding human-system interactions to identify potential risks; Design, which focuses on designing and implementing systems and processes that enhance safety and efficiency; and Improve and Monitor, which entails continuously refining and overseeing systems to ensure ongoing safety and sustainable effectiveness.
Health care professionals who are educated in human factors are empowered with valuable insights into the relationship between humans, patients, and the systems with which they interact.
Benefits of CPHFH Certification
- Health Care Leadership Confidence: Leadership is assured teams are capably skilled to effectively manage complex health care environments through a deep understanding of human-system interactions.
- Skills to Improve Team Performance: Certification affirms competence in applying human factors principles to streamline and optimize team interactions and workflows for more efficient and effective health care delivery.
- Enhanced Patient Safety: Health care professionals with human factors credentials use their knowledge to enhance patient outcomes, minimize errors, design safer systems, and reduce adverse events.
- Professional Recognition: This certification, fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS), validates specialized knowledge in human factors, distinguishing professionals as highly valued experts in creating user-centered and safer health care systems.
- Career Advancement: Human factors in health care certification opens doors to roles that require expertise in system improvement and human factors, positioning professionals for leadership and specialized positions within healthcare organizations.
Why Certification Is Important
This professional certification program establishes core standards for the field of human factors in health care, benchmarks requirements necessary for health care professionals, and sets an expected proficiency level.
- For professionals, the CPHFH credential provides those working in human factors a means to demonstrate their proficiency and skill in the discipline.
- For organizations, requiring the CPHFH credential provides a way for employers to validate a potential candidate’s human factors knowledge and skill base, critical competencies for today’s health care challenges.
Requirements for Certification
Candidates for the CPHFH credential are those who include human factors practices as an integral component of current or future professional responsibilities. Candidates must also possess academic and professional experience at one of the following levels:
- Diploma (e.g., associates, bachelors), plus 3 years of experience in Human Factors in Health Care Related Field over five years (either full time or part-time)
OR
- Master/Doctorate in Human Factors Related Field, plus 1 year of full-time experience or 2 years of part time experience in Human Factors in Health Care Related Field over five years
These candidates may include:
- Physicians, Nurses, and Pharmacists
- Patient Safety Professionals
- Quality, Improvement, and Risk Professionals
- Human Factors and Systems Engineering Professionals
- Health Care Executives
- Non-Clinical Health Care Professionals
- All other health care professionals with the requisite background
The Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS) randomly audits a limited number of applications per year to confirm eligibility requirements are met. If your application is selected for audit, please be prepared to provide documentation attesting to your education and experience.
ليا م. كونوينسكي، ماجستير، مهندسة معتمدة
Director, Human Factors and Innovation, System Quality, Safety and Experience, Corewell Health
Director, Human Factors and Innovation, System Quality, Safety and Experience, Corewell Health
"The human factors professional certification affords organizational leadership an added layer of confidence for any team looking to drive performance in health care."
كين كاتشبول، دكتوراه، CIEHF
Endowed Chair in Clinical Practice and Human Factors, Medical University of South Carolina
Endowed Chair in Clinical Practice and Human Factors, Medical University of South Carolina
“This certification, developed with world-leading health care human factors practitioners, condenses human factors expertise into an accessible and usable form for profound benefits to the efficiency, safety, and well-being of health care workers and patients.”