<p>Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) is recognized as a key systems engineering approach to improve health care quality and safety. HFE is a scientific discipline that studies the interactions among people and other elements of a system and applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize the well-being of people and the overall system performance. An HFE approach to health care quality and safety emphasizes the deployment of HFE tools, knowledge, and professionals and the participation of local stakeholders in the design or redesign of health care work systems and processes to improve patient, employee, and organizational outcomes.</p>