Multitasking: Maximum Effectiveness, Minimum Errors.
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Multitasking has long been a part of emergency services but only recently have advances in neuroscience, cognitive psychology and functional MRI studies allowed us to peer into the multitasking mind and the parts of the brain that control it. New information shows us how we can better train our students and ourselves to improve multitasking, filter out “task noise” and identify when to sidestep multitasking to avoid costly clinical, tactical and managerial mistakes. Teaching Formats: -Lecture -Demonstration Exercises -Question and Answer Learning Objectives: Students will learn: - The difference between multitasking and task-switching. - The function of the Executive System of the brain. - The difference between automatic and controlled thought processes. - How to focus training to prepare students for a multitasking environment. - When and how to avoid multitasking for better trouble-shooting and decision-making (clinical, tactical, managerial). Find more at www.romduckworth.com
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Multitasking: Maximum Effectiveness, Minimum Errors.
- 2. Multitasking and Emergency Services On each and every emergency response you will play many roles: Healer Counselor Advocate Liaison Technician Consultant Driver Radio operator Equipment Specialist How many of these roles do you find yourself attempting to perform at the same time?
- 3. Multitasking Directing attention and efforts at multiple tasks simultaneously.
- 4. Multitasking and Emergency Services "To do two things at once is to do neither.” – Publilius Syrus 1st Century BC
- 5. The History of Multitasking Multitasking at work? 45% of American workers feel they are expected to work on too many tasks at once! Computer term 1960s Multimedia term 1990s Multitasking at work? 100% of Emergency workers feel they are expected to work on too many tasks at once!
- 6. Who’s good at Multitasking? Young People? Women / Mothers? You? Me?
- 7. Who’s good at Multitasking? Women vs Men Studies show that neither gender is good at multitasking Millennials and Multitasking Gex X, Gen Y and Millenials perform multitasking more than previous generations Studies show that they are no better at multitasking than their predecessors.
- 8. 100 50 / 50 40 / 40 / 20 100 50 / 50 But I do it all the time! Frequent multitasking does not change the limits of what the brain can process. more stimuli = less attention to each item 100 % LOSS TO TASK SWITCHING
- 9. The Science of Multitasking We are not capable of true multitasking The illusion of multitasking.
- 10. The Science of Multitasking Familiar “Automatic” Simple Trained Known Examples: Splinting Bandaging Simple C Spine Focused “Controlled” Complex Untrained New Examples: Angulated Fx Uncontrolled Bleed Kyphotic C-Spine immob.
- 11. The Science of Multitasking Task Switching Switch from Familiar to Familiar No Delay Switch to Focused Significant delay Limited Perception and Recording Interference and Distraction Trigger Focused Process Cognitive delay Reduced Situational Awareness Error
- 12. The Science of Multitasking SAY THE COLORS AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
- 13. The Science of Multitasking Red Blue Green Yellow Yellow Red Blue Red SAY THE COLORS AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
- 14. The Science of Multitasking Red Blue Green Yellow Yellow Red Blue Red SAY THE COLORS AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
- 15. The Science of Multitasking The Executive System Not one isolated part. Primarily prefrontal cortex. Handles Controlled Processes. Handles Task Switching. Air Traffic Controller.
- 16. Multitasking and Performance Hewlett Packard and Pitney Bowes studies show decrease in productivity. 2007 NY Times Article: $650 Billion in lost productivity due to “Information Overload” Hewlett Packard and Pitney Bowes studies show decrease in productivity. 2007 NY Times Article: $650 Billion in lost productivity due to “Information Overload” Too much multitasking can also cause Stress Cortisol release Short term memory loss Inability to concentrate Stress Damage to the Pre-Frontal Cortex Short term memory loss
- 17. Multitasking and Clinical Skills ED / Critical Care studies show information loss during interruptions. ED Physicians interrupted approximately every 10 minutes. Direct impact on clinical patient care. Information Loss Diagnostic Errors Medication Errors Poor Clinical Judgment This is in a “controlled” environment.
- 18. Multitasking and Education Experiment: Find the 2 in the 5s
- 19. The Illusion of Attention “If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent.” – Sir Isaac Newton
- 20. Multitasking and Emergency Services ”Pay attention?” “We spend attention, our finite, limited capacity of awareness of what’s going on around us.” – Daniel Kahneman
- 21. No I Didn’t
- 22. Active SA Triggers Change in location (including arrival) Change in task (including receiving assignment) Change in resources (tools, water, crew, etc.) Change in conditions (or conditions do not change) YOU MUST ACTIVELY… PERCEIVE, PROCESS, PREDICT DECIDE, TAKE ACTION, COMMUNICATE/COORD.
- 33. Multitasking Mistakes The three things we must avoid in the classroom & on the street 1) Failing to prepare (classroom management) Forces educator multitasking 2) Failing to focus on the task at hand (lesson) Forces student multitasking, reduces effectiveness 3) Failing to focus on fundamentals (take home)
- 34. Multitasking and EMS “Concentrate all your work upon the task at hand. The Sun’s rays do not burn until focused!” – Alexander Graham Bell
- 37. What can we do about it? 1) FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND Identify & focus on Controlled Processes Decide what needs our full attention Triage and prioritize Recognize Controlled Processes Pay attention to that priority Serial Task Increase Efficiency Reduce Errors
- 38. What can we do about it? OFF LOAD TASKS Do more by doing less! Delegate / Deflect Hand off to colleagues / subordinates Hand off to the hardware Just Say No! Checklists & Job Aids Remove the task of memory Remove the task of interface
- 39. What can we do about it? 2) MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS / INTERUPTIONS The Medic Can’t See You Now Set Up A Buffer Define channels of communication. Minimize channel scanning. Sterile Cockpit Conditions Clear the Air Crew Resource Management
- 40. What can we do about it? Engineering Controls Prompting reduces errors by moving tasks from Controlled to Automatic and reducing task load. Grouping items together: Pediatrics Kit. Labeling: Color Coding Medical Syringes. Access Control: Med Systems Alarms: Machine Monitored Limits Mobile Data Terminals Crew Resource Management ESTABLISH PROMPTS Hey! Over Here!
- 41. What can we do about it? 3) TRAINING TO MAKE IT AUTOMATIC Simulation and Stimulation If automatic is faster and easier then let’s make more things Automatic. Focus on Fundamentals Sports Professionals achieve a higher level of playing the game by practicing fundamentals so that they are Automatic, freeing their brain to work on the Controlled processes of strategy and tactics. How can we do the same in emergency services?
- 42. SUMMARY “A man’s got to know his limitations.” – Dirty Harry, Magnum Force
- 44. SUMMARY The specifics can be debated, but the core is irrefutable. The Human Brain is not designed to multitask. Multitasking is a necessary evil that must be managed, much like Godzilla.
- 45. SUMMARY The three things we must avoid in the classroom & on the street. 1) Failing to prepare for classroom management Forces educator multitasking 2) Failing to focus the lesson Forces student multitasking, reduces effectiveness 3) Failing to focus on fundamentals Forces a culture of failed situational awareness
- 46. Multitasking Mistakes The three things we must avoid in the classroom & on the street 1) Failing to prepare (classroom management) Forces educator multitasking 2) Failing to focus on the task at hand (lesson) Forces student multitasking 3) Failing to focus on fundamentals (take home)
Editor's Notes
- 2007 Family Work Institute