Table 3 Markers of cognitive skills important for team leaders in emergency medical services
Skills | Elements | Markers |
|---|---|---|
Situation awareness | Gathering information | Conducts an initial scan of a situation |
Assesses a patient | ||
Monitors a patient | ||
Observes actions of team members and other professionals | ||
Cross-checks information | ||
Discusses with or considers suggestions from team members regarding what information to gather | ||
Communicates information about a situation to team members | ||
Involves team members in gathering information | ||
Eliminates distractions | ||
Gathers comprehensive information systematically | ||
Adapts gathering information to relevant and priority information | ||
Interpreting information | Demonstrates understanding of a patient’s condition and its changes | |
Makes a working diagnosis | ||
Generates and considers an adequate number of different diagnoses | ||
Identifies and resolves inconsistencies | ||
Communicates interpretations regarding a patient’s condition and diagnosis to team members | ||
Discusses with or considers suggestions from team members regarding a patient’s condition and diagnosis | ||
Anticipating states | Anticipates a possible course of events | |
Prepares for a possible negative course of events with alternative plans | ||
Takes action for the sake of a possible negative course of events | ||
Communicates a possible negative course of events to team members | ||
Discusses with or considers suggestions from team members regarding a possible negative course of events | ||
Involves team members in anticipation-related activities | ||
Decision making | Identifying options | Generates and considers an adequate number of alternative solutions |
Discusses with or considers suggestions from team members regarding solutions | ||
Considers advantages and disadvantages of solutions | ||
Evaluates relevant factors and is not affected by irrelevant factors | ||
Seeks input on various situation-related issues with relevant parties | ||
Involves team members in seeking input with relevant parties | ||
Identifies leverage points and uses them in devising novel solutions | ||
Implementing decisions | Implements a solution while gathering information | |
Prepares tasks before implementing | ||
Tailors workspace and bystanders’ behaviour | ||
Involves team members and other relevant resources in solving a situation | ||
Communicates and explains decisions and actions to team members, other professionals, patients, and their close ones | ||
Provides adequate situation reports | ||
Implements a comprehensive solution systematically | ||
Adapts implementing a solution to relevant and priority actions in a situation | ||
Re-evaluating decisions | Re-assesses a patient | |
Adapts re-assessing a patient to relevant and priority information | ||
Allows adequate time for intervention to take effect | ||
Revises a solution in light of new information | ||
Searches for more information and other options | ||
Involves team members in re-assessing a patient | ||
Maintaining standards | Follows established practice guidance when appropriate | |
Can justify when not following established practice guidance | ||
Leads team members to follow established practice guidance | ||
Uses relevant experience and knowledge | ||
Shows professional behaviour | ||
Engages in learning activities |