The vision of HEPS is represented by the bridge connecting the past and future of healthcare services, as well as ergonomists and clinicians, patients and providers. Previous HEPS conferences (Florence 2005 and Strasbourg 2008) successfully contributed to highlight and develop the contribution of ergonomics to patient safety, thanks to the participation of researchers, practitioners and patient advocates.

The third HEPS conference held in Oviedo, Spain from 22-24 June, 2011 was jointly organized by IEA, AEE and SIE and focused on the challenges healthcare ergonomics faces in designing healthcare services as the co-product of the interaction between clinicians and patients. HEPS 2011 deals in particular with specific tracks dedicated to patient centred design of biomedical devices, intelligent information systems and clinical pathways for the acute and chronic conditions.

Oviedo has shown to be an enchanting venue to host HEPS. Its convivial atmosphere has favoured the interactions between ergonomists, clinicians and patients. The scientific contributions and the patient stories successfully intertwined in the plenary and interactive sessions, to finally evolve in a consensus document on healthcare ergonomics and patient safety.