British engineering+Japanese innovation +good old fashioned common sense:system change makes a difference

ACS NSQIP

The ACS NSQIP provides a good model to systematic collect, analyze and act on outcomes data from daily practice. A paper published by Annals of Surgery gave a detail metrics to measure surgical quality and safety.

A randomized trial using medical simulation.

A randomized trial using medical simulation technology beyond medical education.  This is a great example using simulation applications for human factors and system evaluation suggested by Dr. Small.

Building a Better Delivery System: A New Engineering/Health Care Partnership

National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine published this book emphasized the need for two disciplines working together to address the health care and patient safety issues.

Taking the Pulse of Health Care Systems: Experiences of Patients with Health Problems in Six Countries