Abstract
Multitasking is defined as the ability to perform more than one task or activity simultaneously, which can be inefficient, unsafe, and should be avoided when applied to surgery. Cross-tasking is a concept where processes can be safely performed in parallel. The authors present cross-tasking as a useful approach to surgical procedural task subsets, timing of parallel tasks, and combining parallel tasks when performing a specific orthopaedic operation. The authors use the examples of an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and complex spinal deformity correction to review the pearls and pitfalls of models that manage multiple simultaneous surgical and educational tasks. This concept is most beneficial in an academic environment where both patient care and resident/fellow education take precedence.
Recommended Citation
Sanchez, Jacob; Robert C. Schenck Jr.; Lillian J. Schenck; Urvij Modhia; Gehron Treme; Samer Kakish; Deana Mercer; Daniel C. Wascher; and Dustin L. Richter. "Cross-Tasking in Surgery: An Efficient Method to Perform Multiple Tasks in Parallel." Western Journal of Orthopaedics 13, 1 (2024). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wjo/vol13/iss1/15