Work System Tasks: Blending Art and Science

Surgical team members must complete tasks, in coordination or in parallel, which contribute to the overall surgical processes. These tasks are actions that occur before, during, and after a surgical procedure. Task analysis allows human factors experts to further divide individual tasks and address the who, what, where, when, how, and why of these steps. Task analysis enables the measurement of workload, enhancement of performance, and identification of potential error modes due to inadequate work design that lead to inefficiencies and workarounds. With the increased complexity of surgical cases and efforts to maximize efficient use of resources, workload optimization through methods engineering (work design, task integration, etc.) within the surgical system can improve patient care, safety, and satisfaction while protecting the health and safety of the surgical team.